Question

Read the following passage from William Faulkner's Nobel Prize speech:

I feel that this award was not made to me as a man, but to my work — a life's work in the agony and sweat of the human spirit, not for glory and least of all for profit, but to create out of the materials of the human spirit something which did not exist before.

How does this passage contribute to the overall purpose of the speech?
A. It communicates to would-be writers the difficulty of the profession they chose.
B. It helps establish the fundamental role of the creative artist in society.
C. It describes the genius involved in creating fiction as a work of art.
D. It conveys Faulkner's feeling that his work is not worthy of such a prestigious award.

Answer 1

He's certainly not saying anything that even resembles D. He is talking about something created that was not there before. He is talking about a work produced by the agony of the human spirit to create something that was not there before using the tools available to him. It says nothing about being deserving.

A is a specific group to be addressed. I wouldn't pick it. He says nothing about fellow writers, although they undoubtedly benefit from what he says.

C is too specific. He is not really talking about genius. He would have to classify himself that way, and he doesn't.

That only leaves B. I hate multiple guess because the correct answer is embedded in the mind of whoever asked you the question. I don't like B but of the 4 choices it is the only one you could pick. Be very prepared to be told it is the wrong choice.