Reading Passage Question
Many critics of Emily Brontë’s novel Wuthering Heights see its second part as a counter-point that comments on, if it does not reverse, the first part, where a romantic reading receives more confirmation. Seeing the two parts as a whole is encouraged by the novel’s sophisticated structure, revealed in its complex use of narrators and time shifts. Granted that the presence of these elements need not argue for an authorial awareness of novelistic construction comparable to that of Henry James, their presence does encourage attempts to unify the novel’s heterogeneous parts. However, any interpretation that seeks to unify all of the novel’s diverse elements is bound to be somewhat unconvincing. This is not because such an interpretation necessarily stiffens into a thesis (although rigidity in any interpretation of this or of any novel is always a danger),but because Wuthering Heights has recalcitrant elements of undeniable power that, ultimately, resist inclusion in an all encompassing interpretation. In this respect, Wuthering Heights shares a feature of Hamlet.
“Many critics of Emily Brontë’s novel Wuthering Heights see its second part as a counter-point” - is a GMAT reading comprehension passage with answers. Candidates need a strong knowledge of English GMAT reading comprehension.
This GMAT Reading Comprehension consists of 3 comprehension questions. The GMAT Reading Comprehension questions are designed for the purpose of testing candidates’ abilities in understanding, analyzing, and applying information or concepts. Candidates can actively prepare with the help of GMAT Reading Comprehension Practice Questions.
Solution and Explanation
- According to the passage, which of the following is a true statement about the first and second parts of Wuthering Heights?
- The second part has received more attention from critics.
- The second part has little relation to the first part.
- The second part annuls the force of the first part.
- The second part provides less substantiation for a romantic reading.
- The second part is better because it is more realistic
Answer: D
Explanation: According to the passage, the first part of Wuthering Heights is much more romantic than the second one. This is because the narrator and time change as the novel advances. It is not necessary that the narrator of the first part and second part will have the same tone of explaining things. When we read both the second and first part of the novel it feels that we are not reading the same text but are studying an entirely different text. The novel has a different kind of power which makes both the texts different yet similar in parts.
- Which of the following inferences about Henry James’s awareness of novelistic construction is best supported by the passage?
- James, more than any other novelist, was aware of the difficulties of novelistic construction.
- James was very aware of the details of novelistic construction.
- James’s awareness of novelistic construction derived from his reading of Brontë.
- James’s awareness of novelistic construction has led most commentators to see unity in his individual novels.
- James’s awareness of novelistic construction precluded him from violating the unity of his novels.
Answer: B
Explanation: Henry James has been one of the novelists who very well knew how a novel needs to be constructed. He knew how to make it readable and a solid and relatable plot can be made out in the text. The passage mentions that James was a master in the novel construction. Not all the authors could follow the way he used to write or form the plot of the text. Wuthering heights is a scattered novel which implies that there is no novelistic construction and the story completely goes haywire. There is no way to join the ends in the story due to which it is not that readable.
- The author of the passage would be most likely to agree that an interpretation of a novel should
- not try to unite heterogeneous elements in the novel
- not be inflexible in its treatment of the elements in the novel
- not argue that the complex use of narrators or of time shifts indicates a sophisticated structure
- concentrate on those recalcitrant elements of the novel that are outside the novel’s main structure
- primarily consider those elements of novelistic construction of which the author of the novel was aware
Answer: B
Explanation: There are various elements in a novel due to which become readable and it can be presented well in front of the readers. If the elements of the novel are not followed properly, then the novel will be incomplete and unreadable. All the authors follow the basic elements of the novel to enrich their texts. As per the passage, it is written that the second part of Wuthering Heights is not flexible when it comes to novel elements. The way the novel has been interpreted is not flexible in treating the novel elements. The novel becomes quite stiff and rigid in the second part which makes it look hollow.
- The author of the passage suggests which of the following about Hamlet?
- Hamlet has usually attracted critical interpretations that tend to stiffen into theses.
- Hamlet has elements that are not amenable to an all-encompassing critical interpretation.
- Hamlet is less open to an all-encompassing critical interpretation than Wuthering Heights.
Answer: B
Explanation: In the passage, the author compares the second part of Wuthering Heights to that of Hamlet. This is because of the fact that Hamlet has a few elements which are not compatible with the critical interpretation of the text. This makes the play look very incomplete and difficult to read and understand. In a similar manner, Wuthering Heights also has a few elements which do not go well with the overall critical interpretation of the novel. This makes the novel very complex and difficult. One fails to understand the genre in which the author has written the novel.
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