OpenSAT

Question #N407

The author, a renowned scholar of Renaissance literature, argues that the literary tradition of the English Renaissance was more vibrant and diverse than is commonly believed. He points to a group of largely forgotten female poets who wrote during this period, arguing that these women’s writing not only reflected the political and social changes of the time but also offered a new perspective on what it meant to be a woman in Elizabethan England. His work seeks to uncover the influence of these female poets on the writing of male contemporaries, as well as on the development of the Renaissance literary tradition. What is the most likely reason why the author highlights the work of female poets?

The author’s focus on female poets is most likely intended to

A. emphasize the intellectual vitality of the English Renaissance.

B. challenge the common view that the English Renaissance was dominated by male writers.

C. reexamine the role of women in Elizabethan England.

D. explain the reasons for the popularity of female poets during the English Renaissance.

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Correct Answer is: B

The author is seeking to challenge the reader's understanding of the English Renaissance by introducing a group of female poets who are not as widely known as their male contemporaries. Therefore, the author is focusing on female poets to emphasize that the period was more diverse and that the Renaissance was not as male-dominated as is often thought.