As it is used in the passage, "inheritance" (line 9) refers most specifically to

Shiyi-Zhang on May 17, 2019

Why is C correct?

Why is C correct? Why is E incorrect?

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Ravi on May 17, 2019

@Shiyi-Zhang,

Happy to help. Let's take a look at (C) and (E).

The question says, "As it is used in the passage, “inheritance” (line
9) refers most specifically to..."

(E) says, "the imposition on a poet, based on the poetry of preceding
generations in that language, of a particular writing style"

Although it's true that the inheritance used in the passage is an
influence and a model, it's never described as an imposition on a
poet, which has a pretty negative connotation. The inheritance is an
influence that the poet fully embraces; it's not something that's
pushed on her. We can get rid of (E).

(C) says, "the poetry written in a particular language, whose
achievement serves as a model for other poets writing in that
language"

The passage mentions that Gluck views the poetic tradition as her
inheritance since it was the tradition of her language, which is
English. Additionally, because she admires the poetic tradition and
sees herself as part of the group of poets from that tradition, she
appears to view the inheritance as a type of model for her own poetry.
Thus, (C) is the correct answer choice.

Does this make sense? Let us know if you have any more questions!

on September 19, 2023

Why is B incorrect?

Emil-Kunkin on September 22, 2023

I think the first paragraph is much more general than the specific forms and techniques of English language poetry. Here it seems like the author is referring to the general cannon of English poetry and how Gluck saw herself within that tradition, rather than the specific stylistic elements that a poet might use within that tradition.