Princeton Review AP English Literature & Composition Prep, 2021 by The Princeton Review

Author:The Princeton Review [The Princeton Review]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2020-09-22T00:00:00+00:00

Here’s How to Crack It

This question calls for you to go back and read a fairly large range of lines—a whole paragraph. Go back and read it. Because the several lines referred to in this question make up a more or less self-contained paragraph, reading a full sentence before and after the reference doesn’t make a big difference in getting the question right, but it doesn’t hurt, either, and takes just an extra two or three seconds. Make it a habit to read a little above and below the lines referred to; it’ll be worth a couple of points in the long run.

Essentially, the lines in question discuss the Duke’s outrage at the Devil’s command to disrobe.

If you misunderstand the question, you have a good chance of getting the answer wrong. The passage shows aspects of all the answer choices. The Duke shows a quick temper, mentions his tastes (which are not so much exquisite as they are ostentatious), mentions his accomplishments, and misunderstands his situation. But the correct answer is (C).

All the answer choices seem right, so what gives? The solution lies in understanding the question and how the question relates to the main idea. The question asks: What does the passage serve to reinforce? Nearly everything in this very compact story serves to reinforce the central impression of the story—the Duke’s outrageous sense of self-importance. He isn’t merely a snob; he’s completely besotted with his own fabulous self. The Duke thinks he’s the apex of human intellectual and social development. In fact, (A), (B), (D), and (E) are all facets of the Duke’s vanity. His anger is angered vanity. His tastes are flawless; they must be, thinks the Duke, because they’re his. When the Duke mentions his work, the “Mazurkiad,” you can almost see him puff up with the greatness of it all. Even his misunderstanding is an aspect of his vanity. The Duke doesn’t quite comprehend his surroundings because he can’t imagine being in a position to take orders from anyone. All these things revolve like planets around the Duke’s sense that he’s the center of the universe.

If you had a solid grasp on the central theme of the story, the Duke’s self-love, you might have found this question easy. Choices (A), (B), (D), and (E) are details. Choice (C) is the main thing. If you had trouble, all you had to do to get this question correct was muse, “Hmm, they all look possible, but which one is most consistent with the main idea?” Well, a snob thinks he’s better than everyone and is very important. Choice (C), sense of self-importance, is most in agreement with that.

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