Final answer:
Thomas Hardy gave up his career as a novelist after facing criticism for his poetry, making the correct answer B. Poetry, Playwright.
Step-by-step explanation:
Thomas Hardy's first literary endeavours were in verse, which he seemed to value more highly than prose. He began writing novels in the 1860s when he was unable to get his poetry published, but he returned to verse later in life. Most of his poetry was published after 1898. After receiving much criticism for poetry, Hardy gave up his career as a novelist.
The correct answer is B. Poetry, Playwright. Thomas Hardy, an English writer and poet, was well-known for his novels but later in life received harsh criticism for his poetry, which led him to stop writing novels altogether. This was symptomatic of the period, as the early 20th century saw many authors experience backlash and criticism for their work, much like the experiences of other writers mentioned in the excerpts provided.