Question

will the character eventually triumph? you will be filled with satisfaction— a satisfaction as great as your investment in the character.

(9) what did you gain from taking this journey with the character? perhaps little. perhaps the journey was just an entertaining lark, perhaps all that you gained was diversion. but maybe, just maybe, you experienced something deeper—a kind of affirmation, an affirmation of hope, of the impulse to endure, of the impulse not to give up. if so, you found a version of what we live through every day of our lives. we keep going, we endure, in the face of an eventual triumph that will redeem all the trials that came before. after reading this book, if the book is the first place you felt confident facing whatever troubles led you to take refuge in the book in the first place.

(10) some might argue that the affirmation in such a story is limited. literatures with a happy ending inspire us to continue striving in the hope of eventual success. but in life, unlike literature, success is not always possible. does positive literature imply that life is worth affirming only if the ending is a happy one? by contrast, the tragic might argue, life’s clear vision of the tragic hero go through, by affirming life where the outcome is the worst. image literature might seem to shine further or deeper into literature with a unhappy ending.

(11) i do not dispute this insight into the power of tragic literature. yes, tragedy is profoundly life affirming. just as oedipus is the date that we should cherish happy endings? no, for the joy and relief of success. after all, if that character can make it through life’s ups and downs, there’s no reason we can’t make it; too: if in literature, it’s a reason for people to find the comfort and inspiration they need in literature with a happy ending, then literature with a happy ending has an important role to play in our lives.

____ 9. what is the main claim made in the passage?
a. tragedy is more valuable than hopeful literature.
b. hopeful literature has more value than tragedy.
c. there is value to tragedy in literature.
d. there is value to hopelessness in literature.

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each option:

• Option a: The passage says tragedy is affirming but also argues happy - ending (hopeful) literature has value. It doesn't say tragedy is more valuable than hopeful literature. Eliminate a.
• Option b: The passage doesn't claim hopeful literature is more valuable than tragedy. It says both have value. Eliminate b.
• Option c: The passage discusses that tragedy is affirming and hopeful literature (with happy endings) also has value (provides comfort, inspiration). So it argues there is value in both tragedy and hopeful literature. This fits.
• Option d: The passage supports the value of hopeful (happy - ending) literature, so it doesn't say there's no value in hopefulness. Eliminate d.

Answer:

c. There is value to both tragedy and hopeful literature.