OE QUESTION #1

The passage is about Jacques Derrida’s critical theory. The main idea is that Derrida believed that the critical analysis of a literary work could only be done by thoroughly investigating its context. The major points are that (a) Derrida believed that there was no objective starting point to begin the analysis of a work and (b) analysis of narrative could only begin by deconstructing the assumptions underlying the interpretive process. The main purpose of the passage is to introduce the reader to Derrida’s idea about critical theory.

The correct answer is B.

A. Wrong. While this statement is true according to the passage, it does not explicate why subjectivity is needed to deconstruct complex narratives.
B. Correct. The passage shows that Derrida insisted that textual analysis was ultimately dependent on understanding and interpreting the various contexts that inform the text, an act that is an exercise in subjectivity since subjectivity is concerned with engaging a diversity of perspectives.
C. Wrong. The passage does not give enough information about how readers read in order to make a judgment as to whether or not subjectivity accounts for the interpretive process of readers.
D. Wrong. The passage does not give enough specific information about readers to make the inference that the inner experience of the reader is what characterizes deconstructionist theory.
E. Wrong. The problem word here is interesting. While it may be true that subjectivity may allows for a wider array of textual interpretations, this does not necessarily mean that they would be more interesting than objective interpretations, or at least there is not enough information given in the passage for the reader to make such an inference.