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Adapted from "The Philosophy of Composition" by Edgar Allan Poe (1846)
I have often thought how interesting a magazine paper might be written by any author who would—that is to say, who could—detail, step by step, the processes by which any one of his compositions attained its ultimate point of completion. Why such a paper has never been given to the world, I am much at a loss to say—but, perhaps, the authorial vanity has had more to do with the omission than any one other cause. Most writers—poets in especial—prefer having it understood that they compose by a species of fine frenzy—an ecstatic intuition—and would positively shudder at letting the public take a peep behind the scenes, at the elaborate and vacillating crudities of thought—at the true purposes seized only at the last moment—at the innumerable glimpses of idea that arrived not at the maturity of full view—at the fully-matured fancies discarded in despair as unmanageable—at the cautious selections and rejections—at the painful erasures and interpolations—in a word, at the wheels and pinions—the tackle for scene-shifting—the step-ladders, and demon-traps—the cock's feathers, the red paint and the black patches, which, in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred, constitute the properties of the literary histrio.
I am aware, on the other hand, that the case is by no means common, in which an author is at all in condition to retrace the steps by which his conclusions have been attained. In general, suggestions, having arisen pell-mell are pursued and forgotten in a similar manner.
Q. The main purpose of this passage is __________.
  • a)
    to explain why an article by an author about the composing process has not been written before
  • b)
    to explain why writers have so much trouble writing
  • c)
    to justify why Poe is writing an article about the composing process
  • d)
    to list the reasons why writers write what they do
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?
Most Upvoted Answer
Adapted from "The Philosophy of Composition" by Edgar Allan ...
The primary purpose of the passage is to explain why an article by an author explaining the composition process has not been written before.
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Adapted from "The Philosophy of Composition" by Edgar Allan Poe (1846)I have often thought how interesting a magazine paper might be written by any author who would—that is to say, who could—detail, step by step, the processes by which any one of his compositions attained its ultimate point of completion. Why such a paper has never been given to the world, I am much at a loss to say—but, perhaps, the authorial vanity has had more to do with the omission than any one other cause. Most writers—poets in especial—prefer having it understood that they compose by a species of fine frenzy—an ecstatic intuition—and would positively shudder at letting the public take a peep behind the scenes, at the elaborate and vacillating crudities of thought—at the true purposes seized only at the last moment—at the innumerable glimpses of idea that arrived not at the maturity of full view—at the fully-matured fancies discarded in despair as unmanageable—at the cautious selections and rejections—at the painful erasures and interpolations—in a word, at the wheels and pinions—the tackle for scene-shifting—the step-ladders, and demon-traps—the cocks feathers, the red paint and the black patches, which, in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred, constitute the properties of the literaryhistrio.I am aware, on the other hand, that the case is by no means common, in which an author is at all in condition to retrace the steps by which his conclusions have been attained. In general, suggestions, having arisen pell-mell are pursued and forgotten in a similar manner.Q. The main purpose of this passage is__________.a)to explain why an article by an author about the composing process has not been written beforeb)to explain why writers have so much trouble writingc)to justify why Poe is writing an article about the composing processd)to list the reasons why writers write what they doCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? for ACT 2025 is part of ACT preparation. The Question and answers have been prepared according to the ACT exam syllabus. Information about Adapted from "The Philosophy of Composition" by Edgar Allan Poe (1846)I have often thought how interesting a magazine paper might be written by any author who would—that is to say, who could—detail, step by step, the processes by which any one of his compositions attained its ultimate point of completion. Why such a paper has never been given to the world, I am much at a loss to say—but, perhaps, the authorial vanity has had more to do with the omission than any one other cause. Most writers—poets in especial—prefer having it understood that they compose by a species of fine frenzy—an ecstatic intuition—and would positively shudder at letting the public take a peep behind the scenes, at the elaborate and vacillating crudities of thought—at the true purposes seized only at the last moment—at the innumerable glimpses of idea that arrived not at the maturity of full view—at the fully-matured fancies discarded in despair as unmanageable—at the cautious selections and rejections—at the painful erasures and interpolations—in a word, at the wheels and pinions—the tackle for scene-shifting—the step-ladders, and demon-traps—the cocks feathers, the red paint and the black patches, which, in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred, constitute the properties of the literaryhistrio.I am aware, on the other hand, that the case is by no means common, in which an author is at all in condition to retrace the steps by which his conclusions have been attained. In general, suggestions, having arisen pell-mell are pursued and forgotten in a similar manner.Q. The main purpose of this passage is__________.a)to explain why an article by an author about the composing process has not been written beforeb)to explain why writers have so much trouble writingc)to justify why Poe is writing an article about the composing processd)to list the reasons why writers write what they doCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? covers all topics & solutions for ACT 2025 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, meanings, examples, exercises and tests below for Adapted from "The Philosophy of Composition" by Edgar Allan Poe (1846)I have often thought how interesting a magazine paper might be written by any author who would—that is to say, who could—detail, step by step, the processes by which any one of his compositions attained its ultimate point of completion. Why such a paper has never been given to the world, I am much at a loss to say—but, perhaps, the authorial vanity has had more to do with the omission than any one other cause. Most writers—poets in especial—prefer having it understood that they compose by a species of fine frenzy—an ecstatic intuition—and would positively shudder at letting the public take a peep behind the scenes, at the elaborate and vacillating crudities of thought—at the true purposes seized only at the last moment—at the innumerable glimpses of idea that arrived not at the maturity of full view—at the fully-matured fancies discarded in despair as unmanageable—at the cautious selections and rejections—at the painful erasures and interpolations—in a word, at the wheels and pinions—the tackle for scene-shifting—the step-ladders, and demon-traps—the cocks feathers, the red paint and the black patches, which, in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred, constitute the properties of the literaryhistrio.I am aware, on the other hand, that the case is by no means common, in which an author is at all in condition to retrace the steps by which his conclusions have been attained. In general, suggestions, having arisen pell-mell are pursued and forgotten in a similar manner.Q. The main purpose of this passage is__________.a)to explain why an article by an author about the composing process has not been written beforeb)to explain why writers have so much trouble writingc)to justify why Poe is writing an article about the composing processd)to list the reasons why writers write what they doCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?.
Solutions for Adapted from "The Philosophy of Composition" by Edgar Allan Poe (1846)I have often thought how interesting a magazine paper might be written by any author who would—that is to say, who could—detail, step by step, the processes by which any one of his compositions attained its ultimate point of completion. Why such a paper has never been given to the world, I am much at a loss to say—but, perhaps, the authorial vanity has had more to do with the omission than any one other cause. Most writers—poets in especial—prefer having it understood that they compose by a species of fine frenzy—an ecstatic intuition—and would positively shudder at letting the public take a peep behind the scenes, at the elaborate and vacillating crudities of thought—at the true purposes seized only at the last moment—at the innumerable glimpses of idea that arrived not at the maturity of full view—at the fully-matured fancies discarded in despair as unmanageable—at the cautious selections and rejections—at the painful erasures and interpolations—in a word, at the wheels and pinions—the tackle for scene-shifting—the step-ladders, and demon-traps—the cocks feathers, the red paint and the black patches, which, in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred, constitute the properties of the literaryhistrio.I am aware, on the other hand, that the case is by no means common, in which an author is at all in condition to retrace the steps by which his conclusions have been attained. In general, suggestions, having arisen pell-mell are pursued and forgotten in a similar manner.Q. The main purpose of this passage is__________.a)to explain why an article by an author about the composing process has not been written beforeb)to explain why writers have so much trouble writingc)to justify why Poe is writing an article about the composing processd)to list the reasons why writers write what they doCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? in English & in Hindi are available as part of our courses for ACT. Download more important topics, notes, lectures and mock test series for ACT Exam by signing up for free.
Here you can find the meaning of Adapted from "The Philosophy of Composition" by Edgar Allan Poe (1846)I have often thought how interesting a magazine paper might be written by any author who would—that is to say, who could—detail, step by step, the processes by which any one of his compositions attained its ultimate point of completion. Why such a paper has never been given to the world, I am much at a loss to say—but, perhaps, the authorial vanity has had more to do with the omission than any one other cause. Most writers—poets in especial—prefer having it understood that they compose by a species of fine frenzy—an ecstatic intuition—and would positively shudder at letting the public take a peep behind the scenes, at the elaborate and vacillating crudities of thought—at the true purposes seized only at the last moment—at the innumerable glimpses of idea that arrived not at the maturity of full view—at the fully-matured fancies discarded in despair as unmanageable—at the cautious selections and rejections—at the painful erasures and interpolations—in a word, at the wheels and pinions—the tackle for scene-shifting—the step-ladders, and demon-traps—the cocks feathers, the red paint and the black patches, which, in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred, constitute the properties of the literaryhistrio.I am aware, on the other hand, that the case is by no means common, in which an author is at all in condition to retrace the steps by which his conclusions have been attained. In general, suggestions, having arisen pell-mell are pursued and forgotten in a similar manner.Q. The main purpose of this passage is__________.a)to explain why an article by an author about the composing process has not been written beforeb)to explain why writers have so much trouble writingc)to justify why Poe is writing an article about the composing processd)to list the reasons why writers write what they doCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? defined & explained in the simplest way possible. Besides giving the explanation of Adapted from "The Philosophy of Composition" by Edgar Allan Poe (1846)I have often thought how interesting a magazine paper might be written by any author who would—that is to say, who could—detail, step by step, the processes by which any one of his compositions attained its ultimate point of completion. Why such a paper has never been given to the world, I am much at a loss to say—but, perhaps, the authorial vanity has had more to do with the omission than any one other cause. Most writers—poets in especial—prefer having it understood that they compose by a species of fine frenzy—an ecstatic intuition—and would positively shudder at letting the public take a peep behind the scenes, at the elaborate and vacillating crudities of thought—at the true purposes seized only at the last moment—at the innumerable glimpses of idea that arrived not at the maturity of full view—at the fully-matured fancies discarded in despair as unmanageable—at the cautious selections and rejections—at the painful erasures and interpolations—in a word, at the wheels and pinions—the tackle for scene-shifting—the step-ladders, and demon-traps—the cocks feathers, the red paint and the black patches, which, in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred, constitute the properties of the literaryhistrio.I am aware, on the other hand, that the case is by no means common, in which an author is at all in condition to retrace the steps by which his conclusions have been attained. In general, suggestions, having arisen pell-mell are pursued and forgotten in a similar manner.Q. The main purpose of this passage is__________.a)to explain why an article by an author about the composing process has not been written beforeb)to explain why writers have so much trouble writingc)to justify why Poe is writing an article about the composing processd)to list the reasons why writers write what they doCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?, a detailed solution for Adapted from "The Philosophy of Composition" by Edgar Allan Poe (1846)I have often thought how interesting a magazine paper might be written by any author who would—that is to say, who could—detail, step by step, the processes by which any one of his compositions attained its ultimate point of completion. Why such a paper has never been given to the world, I am much at a loss to say—but, perhaps, the authorial vanity has had more to do with the omission than any one other cause. Most writers—poets in especial—prefer having it understood that they compose by a species of fine frenzy—an ecstatic intuition—and would positively shudder at letting the public take a peep behind the scenes, at the elaborate and vacillating crudities of thought—at the true purposes seized only at the last moment—at the innumerable glimpses of idea that arrived not at the maturity of full view—at the fully-matured fancies discarded in despair as unmanageable—at the cautious selections and rejections—at the painful erasures and interpolations—in a word, at the wheels and pinions—the tackle for scene-shifting—the step-ladders, and demon-traps—the cocks feathers, the red paint and the black patches, which, in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred, constitute the properties of the literaryhistrio.I am aware, on the other hand, that the case is by no means common, in which an author is at all in condition to retrace the steps by which his conclusions have been attained. In general, suggestions, having arisen pell-mell are pursued and forgotten in a similar manner.Q. The main purpose of this passage is__________.a)to explain why an article by an author about the composing process has not been written beforeb)to explain why writers have so much trouble writingc)to justify why Poe is writing an article about the composing processd)to list the reasons why writers write what they doCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? has been provided alongside types of Adapted from "The Philosophy of Composition" by Edgar Allan Poe (1846)I have often thought how interesting a magazine paper might be written by any author who would—that is to say, who could—detail, step by step, the processes by which any one of his compositions attained its ultimate point of completion. Why such a paper has never been given to the world, I am much at a loss to say—but, perhaps, the authorial vanity has had more to do with the omission than any one other cause. Most writers—poets in especial—prefer having it understood that they compose by a species of fine frenzy—an ecstatic intuition—and would positively shudder at letting the public take a peep behind the scenes, at the elaborate and vacillating crudities of thought—at the true purposes seized only at the last moment—at the innumerable glimpses of idea that arrived not at the maturity of full view—at the fully-matured fancies discarded in despair as unmanageable—at the cautious selections and rejections—at the painful erasures and interpolations—in a word, at the wheels and pinions—the tackle for scene-shifting—the step-ladders, and demon-traps—the cocks feathers, the red paint and the black patches, which, in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred, constitute the properties of the literaryhistrio.I am aware, on the other hand, that the case is by no means common, in which an author is at all in condition to retrace the steps by which his conclusions have been attained. In general, suggestions, having arisen pell-mell are pursued and forgotten in a similar manner.Q. The main purpose of this passage is__________.a)to explain why an article by an author about the composing process has not been written beforeb)to explain why writers have so much trouble writingc)to justify why Poe is writing an article about the composing processd)to list the reasons why writers write what they doCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? theory, EduRev gives you an ample number of questions to practice Adapted from "The Philosophy of Composition" by Edgar Allan Poe (1846)I have often thought how interesting a magazine paper might be written by any author who would—that is to say, who could—detail, step by step, the processes by which any one of his compositions attained its ultimate point of completion. Why such a paper has never been given to the world, I am much at a loss to say—but, perhaps, the authorial vanity has had more to do with the omission than any one other cause. Most writers—poets in especial—prefer having it understood that they compose by a species of fine frenzy—an ecstatic intuition—and would positively shudder at letting the public take a peep behind the scenes, at the elaborate and vacillating crudities of thought—at the true purposes seized only at the last moment—at the innumerable glimpses of idea that arrived not at the maturity of full view—at the fully-matured fancies discarded in despair as unmanageable—at the cautious selections and rejections—at the painful erasures and interpolations—in a word, at the wheels and pinions—the tackle for scene-shifting—the step-ladders, and demon-traps—the cocks feathers, the red paint and the black patches, which, in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred, constitute the properties of the literaryhistrio.I am aware, on the other hand, that the case is by no means common, in which an author is at all in condition to retrace the steps by which his conclusions have been attained. In general, suggestions, having arisen pell-mell are pursued and forgotten in a similar manner.Q. The main purpose of this passage is__________.a)to explain why an article by an author about the composing process has not been written beforeb)to explain why writers have so much trouble writingc)to justify why Poe is writing an article about the composing processd)to list the reasons why writers write what they doCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? tests, examples and also practice ACT tests.
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