The author of passage B would be most likely to agree with which one of the following?
devonon May 17, 2023
Answer B
When the author states that "One can, if one wants, define genres of fiction as sets of texts sharing certain thematic similarities," it seems that the author is saying that readers expectations need not be considered in defining a genre. Although the author argues that a better way to classify genres is by relying on reader expectations, the author explicitly states that this is not the only valid way to demarcate genres and in doing so implies that reader expectations are nonessential (of course, depending on the method by which one classifies genres). (After all, thematic similarities as a method can exist independent of reader expectations.) I'm having trouble reconciling this fact with answer choice B being incorrect.
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Hi, as you noted, the first sentence is something the author is arguing is an inferior method of categorization, and their preferred method is to use the ways that readers interact with a genre. How could the author agree that reader expectations are irrelevant? While I don't think we can prove that the author thinks that thematic elements should be ignored, they clearly think that reading protocols are essential to genre. The question is asking what the author agrees with. They tell us that one could argue a certain thing, and then go on to dispute that point. The author clearly doesn't agree with the disputed point.
