Detailed Analysis
1. Identify the Two Camps:
- Camp 1: Tries to "rescue the man himself from a macabre world" where fate decreed a negative outcome.
- Camp 2: Does the opposite of Camp 1; they ________ (ii) that very myth, treating the subject as one for whom tragedy was _______ (iii).

2. Analyze Blank (i): The Decreed Outcome (Negative)
- Context: Fate had decreed nothing less than a(n) _______ (i) outcome, matching the "macabre world." This must be a negative word.
- A. dire: Extremely serious or urgent; dreadful. (Excellent Fit. A dreadful outcome fits the macabre/tragedy theme.)
- B. unforeseen: Not anticipated. (Describes when it happened, not its quality.)
- C. auspicious: Favorable; conducive to success. (Opposite meaning.)

3. Analyze Blank (ii): Camp 2's Action (Supporting the Myth)
- Context: Camp 1 tries to rescue Poe from the myth, so Camp 2 must support or preserve the myth. They treat Poe's life as a tragedy.
- D. dispute: Argue against. (Opposite of supporting the myth.)
- E. hold fast to: Cling to; maintain belief in. (Excellent Fit. They affirm the myth that Camp 1 tries to dismantle.)
- F. squelch: Suppress or suddenly silence. (Opposite of affirming the myth.)

4. Analyze Blank (iii): Camp 2's View of Tragedy (Inevitable)
- Context: If Camp 2 holds fast to the myth of tragedy, they must believe that the life of tragedy for Poe was necessary, expected, or unavoidable.
- G. all but inevitable: Almost certain to happen. (Excellent Fit. It suggests destiny or fate made his tragic life unavoidable, aligning with the idea of supporting the "macabre world" myth.)
- H. clearly unexpected: Opposite meaning.
- I. hardly justified: Suggests the tragedy was unfair, which would align more with Camp 1's "rescue" efforts.

Conclusion

The words that create the most logical contrast between the two biographical camps are:

Blank (i) Blank (ii) Blank (iii)
A. dire
E. hold fast to
G. all but inevitable

Export to Sheets

The completed sentence reads: "Edgar Allen Poe biographers tend to fall into two camps: those who try to rescue the man himself from a macabre world in which fate had decreed nothing less than a dire outcome, and those who hold fast to that very myth, treating the subject as one for whom a life of tragedy was all but inevitable."