OFFICIAL EXPLANATION QUESTION #2



1st, 2nd, and 3rd.

All three of the features are listed as characteristic of the Naturalist movement. "Vehicle for the scientific method" matches "extending the scientific method," while "focused on the effects of environment on shaping character" and "elaborated on the way inherited traits influenced human behavior" both match the passage's claim that Naturalism stressed "the influence of environment and heredity upon the individual psyche." If Decadent authors embraced any of these literary practices, this would bring their work closer in line with Naturalism.

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Naturalism, arising in the 19 th century as a literary response to Darwin's account of evolution, focused on describing everyday reality but differed from realism in its attempts to provide a "scientific" foundation for its depictions of characters, stressing the influence of environment and heredity upon the individual psyche.

Complex sentence but quite important: It says that naturalism is the answer to Darwin's theory about evolution. HOWEVER, it is related to realism but contrary to the realism itself - which probably has its roots only in the observation of the environment - naturalism is like realism + science + human behavior


Émile Zola, in particular, saw his craft as an extension of the scientific method into the domain of art.

Science + art = realism (maybe) Here the passage is not that clear in its jump


The 19 th century, perhaps in opposition to naturalism, saw the rise of the Decadent movement, embracing artifice over nature in writing, championed by Zola's erstwhile protégé, Joris-Karl Huysmans.

Here we have the rising of ANOTHER movement (how many? ). The Decadent movement: Ossian poems, black sabbath and blah blah blah

The protagonist of his masterpiece, Á rebours (literally, Against the Grain, but more commonly translated as Against Nature), removes himself from society-viewing it as the product of a nature long surpassed by human ingenuity—and surrounds himself exclusively with art, perfume, literature, and technology.

Joris-Karl Huysmans. wrote something huge> Against Nature> man is or himself is not the product of the environment but instead by human tendency or pleasures> art, perfume and so on

Really weird passage

EXPLANATION OF THE QUESTION 1


Consider each of the answer choices separately and indicate all that apply.

Which of the following can be inferred from the passage about perfume?

A. Some followers of the Decadent movement considered it to be an example of human artifice.
B. Some followers of the Decadent movement considered it to be superior to natural entities.
C. Some followers of the Decadent movement enjoyed surrounding themselves with it.


- Perfume is listed as one of the artifice items embraced by the Decadent protagonist $\(\rightarrow\)$ supports (A).
- The protagonist views society as surpassed by human ingenuity, favoring artifice $\(\rightarrow\)$ supports (B).
- He surrounds himself exclusively with perfume $\(\rightarrow\)$ not supports (C).

C is quite captivating. However, the question says enjoyed surrounding themselves with it. BUT the passage surrounds himself exclusively we do not know about enjoyment

C is wrong for this specific reason

EXPLANATION OF THE QUESTION 2


Consider each of the answer choices separately and indicate all that apply.

Which of the following, if true, would undermine the claim that the Decadent movement was opposed to naturalism?

A. Decadent authors intended to use literature as a vehicle for the scientific method.
B. Decadent authors focused on the effects of environment on shaping character.
C. Decadent authors elaborated on the way inherited traits influenced human behavior.


Passage claim:
- Decadent movement arose perhaps in opposition to naturalism.
- Naturalism stressed the influence of environment and heredity (scientific method applied in art).
- Decadent authors embraced artifice over nature.

Undermining would require showing that Decadent writers shared these naturalist emphases:
- (A) contradicts "artifice over nature" because scientific method is associated with naturalism $\(\rightarrow\)$ supports undermining opposition.
- (B) focuses on environment's effects, a naturalistic theme $\(\rightarrow\)$ supports undermining.
- (C) heredity influencing behavior, another naturalistic theme $\(\rightarrow\)$ supports undermining.

Correct answers: A,B, and C