In which excerpt from the passage "A Four-Hundred-Year-Old Woman" does the author express disapproval with her fellow writers?

"Writers ... often disavow the notion of a 'literary duty' ..."

" ... writers ruined by their shrill commitments."

"Glibness abounds on both sides of the argument ..."

" ... but finally I have to side with my 'Third World' compatriots ..."

Question

Deborah Ferguson

English

31 August, 13:57

In which excerpt from the passage "A Four-Hundred-Year-Old Woman" does the author express disapproval with her fellow writers?

"Writers ... often disavow the notion of a 'literary duty' ..."

" ... writers ruined by their shrill commitments."

"Glibness abounds on both sides of the argument ..."

" ... but finally I have to side with my 'Third World' compatriots ..."

+3

Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Dean · Answer 1

The answer is the first one.

In "Writers often disavow the notion of a 'literary duty'" the author conveys a somewhat condescending attitude, as if they would always follow this and set aside anyone who said otherwise. This attitude says the author is looking down on them, and that the author believes that many authors do not meet their standards.

Another answer I would consider is " ... writers ruined by their shrill commitments." However, there is no context or clear tone. The author could be mournful of the lost potential for all we know.