Literary Devices (Varsity Tutor)

Which of the following quotes best captures the author's opinion on the education of women?

"Hence, in the scientific education of woman, in the training of her faculties to independent thought and logical reasoning, lies the hope of the future." The primary intention of this passage is to argue against the various institutional norms that have so long held woman in servitude to man. The author spends much of the passage explaining the inadequacies of these "norms" and decrying their impact upon men and women alike. In the passage's conclusion, the author reveals her solution: education of women.

Which of the following is the best title for this passage?

"Life: The Interloper in Art" When you are asked to give the best title for a passage, you are generally being asked if you understand the thesis and the author's intention in writing the piece. In this instance, the author's primary purpose is to argue against the influence of life in artistic expression. The author believes that art has become corrupted by the involvement of life in it; however, the best title is not "The Corruption of Art" because this answer only captures a portion of the author's argument. An "interloper" is someone or something that interferes in a process and is not welcome. From the whole of the author's argument we can clearly see that the author believes life has involved itself detrimentally in the area of artistic expression.

Based on the whole of this passage, the author would be most likely to define "Divine Right" as ______.

A constructed idea designed to justify female subservience and reinforce the power of men As the end of the third paragraph, the author uses words like "excuse" and "tyranny" in conjunction with "divine right." From this we can infer that she believes that the concept of "divine right" is not genuine and used as a means to control people. From this, we can determine that she believes it is a constructed idea designed to justify female subservience and additionally, to ensure the continued control of women by men.

What idea does Thoreau convey through the image of the "wooden gun"?

A lack of power The author has not been discussing war or machinery. His is discussing the government. In thinking about his point regarding the government, it should become clear that for him, the government has no real power, particularly when compared to an individual person. Unlike a real gun, a wooden gun has none of the qualities of a real gun: it is ineffectual.

Which of the following proposals would you expect Mill to make in the legislature?

A law that guarantees wide allowance to the topics that are acceptable for publication This passage is about how society tends to censor new ideas, taking them to be unacceptable. Mill holds that such action should be limited. Perhaps Mill would have held some of the other positions listed, however, these other positions are not expressed in THIS selection.

The dominant rhetorical device exhibited in the passage's opening sentences demonstrates ______.

A paradox A "paradox" is a seemingly contradictory statement pointing to a truth. The author states, "government is best which governs not all." Parallel structure occurs when similar grammatical or syntactical patterns are repeated; parallelism does not occur in the passage's opening sentences. There are no colloquialisms either, and the opening sentences do not present an understatement.

The word "associate" in the sixth paragraph refers to which of the following?

An individual belonging to a community. In context, an "associate" belongs to "the whole community." This suggests that the answer will be related to the role of an individual in a larger group. Because there is no mention of business or economics, "employee" and "business partner" are incorrect. The author furthermore focuses on one group, not many, so an associate must not refer to an "ally" or an "affiliate of an outside group." "Associate" here refers, then, to an individual person who joins a union of others.

Which of these works or types of art would the author be most likely to approve of?

An ornamental display in a traditional Japanese garden Any answer choices that relate directly to life, or life's involvement in art, can be immediately disregarded. This leaves pottery from Rome and an ornamental display. The author might approve of the pottery but he might also argue that it is not art, but a useful tool. He is most likely to approve of the ornamental display because he showed appreciate for similar decorates done by monks in earlier eras.

Identify the type of rhetorical device used in the following sentences and its function: "It does not keep the country free. It does not settle the West. It does not educate."

Anaphora that emphasizes what the government had not done Anaphora is the repetition of phrases at the beginning of sentences. The author repeats "It does not" three times in successive sentences. The repetition emphasizes what the government has not done.

Which of these best describes the author's attitude towards the efforts of the church and the state?

Anger and disgust The author clearly believes that the collusion of church and state is responsible for the subjugation of women and the general degradation of mankind. Seeing as she spends the essay rallying against the negative impact on humanity, it is reasonable to determine that she feels anger and disgust towards the church and state.

With which of these statements would the author most likely disagree?

Artistic expression suffers when created in abstraction Firstly, we know that the author believes that "the integration of life into art created characters who were unrealistic and exaggerated." Likewise, we know that the author believes Shakespeare contributed to the decline of English drama. We do not necessarily know that the author believes life's involvement in art is detrimental for both, but we do know that the author believes it was detrimental for art at least because that is the thesis of the essay. From the manner in which the author praises art and declares that its truest form is abstract, we can determine that the author would heavily disagree with the statement that "Artistic expression suffers when created in abstraction."

According to the passage, what is the relationship between citizens and the government?

Based on preconceived ideas The author states "the people must have some complicated machinery and hear its din"; this figuratively suggests that citizens must have their voices and opinions heard.

What is the meaning of the word vulgarly in the passage's first sentence?

By the general public Given that Mill is discussing the majority throughout the passage, it comes as relatively unsurprising that he is using "vulgarly" to mean having to do with the general public. While "rudely," "in a way that completely ignores social mores," and "ostentatiously" all pick up on other meanings of "vulgarly," none of these options make sense in context, and neither does "rarely," as "vulgarly" is preceded immediately by "still."

In the first paragraph, the author argues that the army and the government ______.

Can be distorted and mistreated, are manipulated by a minority Referring back to the text, "equally liable" implies both the army and the government. Terms like "abused" suggests mistreatment. As the government controls the army, it stands to reason that the army, too, is manipulated by a few. "The standing army is only an arm of the standing government"; however, only the army is an aspect of the whole. No such argument is cited about the government.

In the second paragraph, "American government" compared to "a single living man" to contend that the government is all of the following EXCEPT ______.

Constantly changing Three of the options are really synonyms for not having vitality and force.

Which of the following words is parallel in function to "customs" in the paragraph?

Damp In order to function in parallel, the answer must be the same part of speech as the word "customs," which is a noun. This automatically rules out "disliked" and "arising." In addition, the word must serve the same purpose as "customs," which is offered as an example of something that makes Miss Branwell unhappy in her new environment. "Childhood" and "town" do not fulfill this purpose; the noun "damp" is therefore the correct answer.

The narrator seems to have drawn most from which of the following?

Detailed background research The narrator's use of phrases such as "I believe" and "I have heard" suggest that she was not personally present at these events, which rules out "firsthand observations" and "personal life experience." "Muckraking" refers to the journalistic practice of publicly revealing scandals, which, like "widely reported gossip," does not relate to the content of this passage. Rather, her attention to detail and emphasis on thoughtful inference indicates a good deal of background research on her subject.

Which of these best capture's the author's idea of "habitual sluggishness"?

Doing the same thing over and over again Immediately after this phrase, the author uses a semicolon which suggests that she is going to specify exactly what she means. She says "in rising in the morning with the same ideas as the night before; in retiring each night with the thoughts of the morning. This inertia of mind and body has ever held the multitude in chains." From this we can reasonable determine that she means doing the same thing over and over out of habit and laziness.

The author most likely references Shakespeare to demonstrate that ______.

Even the most famous and prodigious of authors are subject to the unfavorable involvement of life in the pursuit of art Even at the time this was written, perhaps more so, Shakespeare was considered the pinnacle of literary achievement. When the author says "Even Shakespeare..." it is clear that his intention is to demonstrate how even the most famous, the most gifted of authors ruins his art by including too much of life. The author seems to say that Shakespeare's art suffers from his unfavorable involvement with life.

Which of the following best describes the tone Mill exemplifies throughout this passage?

Evenhanded and logical Mill employs and even and logical tone throughout the entire passage, guiding readers step by step through the different types of tyranny of the majority and identifying which is the one he believes to be the more dangerous. He is precise and not sarcastic, biting, paranoid, or skeptical. While "enslaving the soul itself" may be read as somewhat poetic, this is only described a moment in the passage, not the entire passage, and nothing in the passage can be describes as being "whimsical."

Which of the following political ideals would you think the author most likely to have?

Freedom is a great social good and should be maximized This whole text, as is quite evident in its title, is about liberty. In the selection presented here, Mill clearly thinks that finding the proper limit to public encroachment on private matters is "indispensable to a good condition of human affairs." He is a proponent of liberty and wishes for there to be a maximal amount of it in the culture and political environment.

The writer's mention of "the character inherent in the American people" is appropriate to the development of his argument because it ______.

Illuminates the accomplishments of American citizens The way in which the phrase is in used in the passage emphasizes the author's message that government gets in the way and inhibits progress.

To what good thing does Mill believe the tyranny of the majority is opposed?

Individual development and expression Mill describes the action of societal tyranny of the majority in the following words: "To fetter the development, and, if possible, prevent the formation, of any individuality not in harmony with its ways, and compel all characters to fashion themselves upon the model of its own." The idea is that such tyranny looks to mold citizens in a standard image or mold, not allowing individuals to develop in their own ways freely. He clearly see this as a negative thing and thus indirectly advocates for the freedom that allows people to develop and express themselves as individuals.

Which of the following best describes the purpose of this passage?

It enumerates the difficulties of a theoretical sociopolitical issue and then offers a solution We can immediately ignore the answer choices that suggest the passage's purpose is to introduce, deny, or instruct because such ideas are not mentioned. While the passage does discuss mankind in general terms, it does not make any judgements about the goodness or badness of mankind, instead it describes some of the problems around the association of individuals, then introduces the idea of the social contract.

What best describes the function of the question posed in paragraph three?

It illustrates the dilemma created by a socio-political concept Rousseau identifies the issue of how men might be able to preserve their individuality within a larger organization. We can thus immediately eliminate the responses relating to "an economic proposal" and "a mathematical problem," as neither is mentioned in this passage. Since Rousseau poses the question rhetorically, meanwhile, he cannot be "appeal[ing] to the audience for support." Finally, he does not refer to any sort of "truism," or cliché. Rather, the author addresses a problem in order to follow up with a proposed solution.

Which of these represents the author's thoughts about the nature of "protection"?

It involves surrendering all responsibility for oneself to someone else, at the expense of personal liberty. In the middle of the second paragraph, the author declares that protection is "a word that simply means release from all responsibility, all use of one's own faculties—a word that has ever blinded people to its true significance."

According to Mill, why is social tyranny more devastating than many kinds of political oppression?

It is all-encompassing and difficult to evade. The key selection for this question is, "Though not usually upheld by such extreme penalties, it leaves fewer means of escape, penetrating much more deeply into the details of life, and enslaving the soul itself." Because it leaves few means of escape (i.e. is difficult to evade), is more penetrating into the details of life, and it even enslaves the soul itself, Mill believes that social pressure and tyranny can be much worse than political tyranny.

Why is the expression "tyranny of the majority" evocative?

It is shocking, for such a use of "tyranny" is unexpected. A tyrant is a corrupt ruler who lords his or her power over the masses. Tyrannies are rarely thought of as being executed by groups, let alone by the majority. We think that if the majority of people agree with something, it is safe, secure, and so forth. However, the use of "tyranny of the majority" blasts away this kind of interpretation. It is shocking because of the unexpected comparison of two things often thought to be quite distinct and incompatible.

The author's attitude and tone in this passage could best be described as ______.

Lamenting The primary purpose of this passage is to lament the influence of life in the creation of art, and the author's tone reflects this. It may be reasonable to say that the author's attitude is "reverential" or "pessimistic" but these are far from the overall tone. "Uncouth usually means rude and "frank" means bluntly honest which also don't accurate describe the author's tone throughout the passage.

Which of the following best describes the author's tone in paragraph 8?

Logical and persuasive If the author were "inflammatory and hyperbolic," he would employ exaggerations and provocative assertions; he does not do this. In a "bitter and rousing" text, one would expect insults or harsh critiques, which are likewise not present in this passage. Yet, the paragraph is neither "hesitant" nor "cautionary" but rather clearly stated and optimistic as Rousseau describes what men gain from the social contract. By stating the facts as he sees them and asserting that freedom can be maintained within a community, the author thus employs techniques of logic and persuasion.

The rhetorical device of the "wooden gun" is an example of ______.

Metaphor When Thoreau says that "[Government] is a sort of wooden gun to the people themselves," he is employing a metaphor and figuratively comparing government to a wooden gun.

The author's choice of the phrase "I have heard" suggests which of the following?

Miss Branwell's habit has been recalled by those close to her. The phrase "I have heard" rues out the possibility that the narrator actually saw what she is about to describe. It also suggests, however, that she is reporting the facts rather than "embellishing," which would bring in fictional elements, or inferring, which would require an educated guess. There is no indication that Miss Branwell was "fiercely secretive." So, the phrase most nearly implies that the narrator has spoken with those, most probably family members, who either remember or have themselves heard stories of Miss Branwell's actions.

What two kinds of "tyranny of the majority" are compared in the first paragraph?

One working through established power channels and one happening indirectly through the structures of society. Mill first mentions a type of tyranny of the majority that works through the "public authorities." This is a kind of tyranny that operates through established and accepted channels. To this, he contrasts the situation occurring "when society is itself the tyrant"—that is, when the general structures of society become tyrannical.

Which of these best restates the author's meaning in the underlined portion of text, "The thinkers and actors who find their authority within, are those who inaugurate freedom"?

People who think independently and do not seek out knowledge in authority help encourage personal liberty for all mankind. In context, the author is contrasting people who find authority within themselves favorably against those people who look to external sources of power for authority. Because people who look to outside sources for help continue the dominance of tyranny, it is reasonable to determine that people who do the opposite—people who think independently—encourage personal liberty for all mankind.

The tone of this passage could best be described as ______.

Resolute, urging, and challenging The tone is resolute because it is assured in its argument and unwavering in its commitment. It is urging because it is demanding that certain modes of thinking be changed in order to affect change. Finally, it is challenging because it is rallying against an established social order.

What would be an example of the "enslaving [of] the soul itself" that is spoken of in the selection?

Society scorning those who express new, potentially radical ideas The idea of "enslaving the soul" means to express the idea of forbidding the very freedom of thought that someone might have (and other similar sorts of forbidding). If society were to scorn those who have potentially new and radical ideas, this would completely stifle freedom of thought and would risk wholly enslaving the soul, so to speak.

Which of these represents the central idea of the second paragraph?

Subjugating people to the established authority of church and state has stifled the growth of individual liberty in mankind. The author uses the second paragraph to introduce her argument that the primary responsibility for the degradation of mankind rests at the feet of the combined efforts of church and state. Because of the language and implication, it is most correct to infer that the author is stating that the church and state have had an extremely negative effect rather than just one that is not wholly positive.

Which of the following best describes the tone in which Miss Branwell's "narrow ideas" are described in the underlined sentence?

Sympathetic The narrator explains that Miss Branwell's "narrow ideas" are likely a product of her environment. While she does not "admire" this quality, which is generally agreed to be negative, she also does not "denounce" it completely. To "dismiss" it would be to suggest that it does not matter, which the narrator does not do. Finally, a "hyperbolic" approach would be exaggerated; this does not describe the passage, either. By noting that she was a "kindly and conscientious woman," the narrator instead takes a sympathetic view of Miss Branwell's prejudices without excusing them entirely.

The author uses the work of Lecky to reinforce which part of her argument?

That women have suffered far more than men as a result of religious persecution and religion's desire to undermine the growth of the masses. In the paragraph before she references Lecky, the author discusses the negative impact organized religion has had on the role of women in society. Then, when discussing Lecky's work, the author says, "Lecky, in his History of Rationalism in Europe, shows that the vast majority of the victims of fanaticism and witchcraft, burned, drowned, and tortured were women." The author thus uses Lecky to reinforce her argument that women have suffered far more than men because of religious persecution.

Based on the passage's remarks, which of the following would be an example of the way that the social tyranny of the majority expresses itself?

The citizens of a small town talk disapprovingly of a new, seemingly radical young teacher The idea of social pressure and tyranny by the majority is explained here in terms of the subtle but pervasive type of pressure that can be caused by a group. This usually happens without any central planning. It is more like the quiet rumors and whisperings of people, who thus cause difficulties for those whom they shun or which to shun. This is best described in the scenario of the little town, exerting pressure "in the background"—real pressure, though, that will likely cause the young teacher to be ousted.

Which of the following is NOT established by the author, as part of her argument, in the first paragraph?

The combined efforts of the church and state are the primary cause of mankind's, and in particular, women's, subjugation. This argument is established in the second paragraph when the author says, "Again, 'subjugation to the powers that be' has been the lesson of both church and state, throttling science, checking invention, crushing free thought, persecuting and torturing those who have dared to speak or act outside of the established authority."

Which of these answers best restates the author's meaning in the phrase, "In this union of church and state mankind touched the lowest depth of degradation."

The combined efforts of the church and state to subjugate mankind are an indignity. According to the author, the combined efforts of church and state are directed towards subjugating mankind. In the indicated sentence, the author says that their "union," "mankind touched the lowest depth of degradation." This answer choice captures the sense of the author's remark more completely than the other answer choices.

The primary audience for this passage could be described as ______.

The general population of American citizens This passage as a whole encourages citizens to take appropriate civic action when they disagree with their government. Although Thoreau mentions the army, the intended audience is the group of average American citizens, not the minority of leaders in any particular sect of government or religion.

The phrase "conventional liberty" in the fifth paragraph refers to which of the following concepts?

The powers accorded by membership in a community The phrase "conventional liberty" is presented in opposition to "natural liberty," which denotes the rights of the individual. The answer regarding "rights of the individual" carries the opposite meaning. "Popular sovereignty" and "conservative political ideology" are not ideas introduced in this passage. Additionally, the top-down powers of the state are not addressed. Conventional liberty, therefore, refers to the particular freedoms gained by membership in a larger union.

Which of the following positions would Mill not hold?

There should be no political or social power whatsoever Notice that the question asks which position Mill would NOT hold. It is tempting to think that he would not want any power to be given to the government; however, this is not the cause in this selection. He does think that it is necessary to limit social pressure on individual expression, however, he does say, "Society can and does execute its own mandates; and if it issues wrong mandates instead of right..." If there are wrong mandates, there can be right ones. Mill might wish to limit the power of such mandates, but he does not wish to eliminate social and political power entirely.

The author's primary issue with the "entirely new race of beings" is that ______.

They experience emotions with a zenith and nadir that are above and below the range of standard human feelings When discussing this "entirely new race of beings," the author laments that these characters created by the inclusion of life in art experience highs and lows that are unrealistic and inhuman. They experience "sorrows more terrible than any sorrow man has ever felt," and "had the rage of the Titans and the calm of the gods." This indicates that the author believes that this "entirely new race of beings" experiences emotions far removed from the standard human experience.

Which of the following best describes the overall purpose of the passage?

To explain the reasons behind Miss Branwell's attitudes and behavior The author does not attempt to "persuade us of Miss Branwell's ultimate guilt"; in fact, she is fairly complimentary of Miss Branwell. The focus of the passage is not on the children, nor is it on Penzance, which is the town from which Miss Branwell moved. While nature is described, there is no "extended metaphor" surrounding it. The author describes the changes in Miss Branwell's lifestyle and the circumstances of her new home in order to illuminate the reasons why she struggled to adapt to like in Yorkshire.

In context, the phrase "wild beasts" is used for what purpose?

To illustrate the intensity of the weather Neither "ferocious animals" nor "mysterious noises" are mentioned in this passage. In context, the phrase "wild beasts" does not refer to the children at all, and it does not suggest threats posed by solitude. Instead, the author compares the wind on autumn and winter nights to "wild beasts," thus suggesting the magnitude and fierceness of the weather conditions.

What is the author's point in stating that "men cannot engender new forces"?

To prove that the only solution is thus for men to join together "Forces" here refers to man's powers of "preservation," as explained in the first paragraph. We can right away eliminate "the technological limitations of warfare," as there is no mention of either technology or war, and "the weakness of men when compared to other animals," as there is no mention of other animals. Rousseau does not put forth a scientific theory. Because men cannot "engender new forces," the author argues, they cannot "rely on their individual strength alone," but must instead join forces and combine their abilities.