LiteQ Daily
Today's SAT-style R&W question.
One short passage, one focused question, and a clear explanation.
Digital SAT-styleUnder 10 minutesReading & Writing
Q1hard
Craft & Structure·Cross Text Connections·75s
Passage
Text 1
Literary scholar Amara Osei argues that the concept of 'the canon' — the body of works considered essential to a literary tradition — inevitably reflects the values and biases of those who construct it. Since canons have historically been defined by white male academics, she contends, they systematically exclude voices from marginalized communities. Osei advocates for a radical diversification of syllabi to correct this imbalance.
Text 2
Literary critic David Kessler acknowledges that literary canons have historically underrepresented certain groups but pushes back against the notion that canonical status is purely a product of social power. He argues that certain works endure across centuries and cultures because they possess aesthetic qualities — formal complexity, emotional depth, linguistic innovation — that transcend the circumstances of their creation. While Kessler supports including more diverse voices, he insists that aesthetic merit, not demographic representation, should remain the primary criterion for inclusion.
Based on the texts, how would Osei most likely respond to Kessler's emphasis on 'aesthetic merit' as the primary criterion for canon formation?