Reading comp PrepTest 158 · Section 1 · Question 10

Passage Summary Topic:
Humanities

Paragraph 1

• Paragraph note
  • Recent criticism: Applies Native American term "trickster" to picaro
• Views, minor Meta-Structures, and the author's attitude
  • Definition of "trickster": Comic figure with human weaknesses and supernatural powers (first sentence)
  • Definition of picaro: rogue (second sentence)
  • Comparison:
    • Both picaro and trickster are protagonists in episodic adventures, live on the margins of society, and are flawed (second sentence)

Paragraph 2

• Paragraph note
  • Author: Critics' use of "trickster" hides differences between the two
  • Support: Background on picaro
• Views, minor Meta-Structures, and the author's attitude
  • Author's view: Picaro's open indulgences satirize society whose members reject him despite engaging in similar indulgences in private (third through last sentences)
  • Comparisons:
    • Both picaro and members of society indulge in similar vices (third sentence)
    • However, picaro does so publicly, while members of society do privately (third sentence)

Paragraph 3

• Paragraph note
  • Support: Trickster's differences from the picaro
• Views, minor Meta-Structures, and the author's attitude
  • Author's view: Trickster provides moral instruction (as an example of what not to do); not a figure of satire (second through last sentence)
  • Comparisons between trickster and picaro:
    • Trickster not satirical, while picaro is (first sentence)
    • Trickster exists in world of myth, while picaro exists in society (second sentence)
    • Trickster provides moral instruction (as an example of what not to do), while picaro reveals the hypocrisy of society (second sentence)
    • Both trickster and picaro on margins of society, but trickster there because trickster is fundamental antisocial/flawed (fifth sentence)
  • Author's attitude: "instead essential" (fourth sentence)

Paragraph 4

• Paragraph note
  • Support: How trickster illustrates human flaws
• Views, minor Meta-Structures, and the author's attitude
  • Example of how trickster illustrates human flaws:
    • Coyote trickster falls in love with a star (unreasonable desire) and falls back to Earth (second through last sentence)

Main Point:
Critics' use of the term "trickster" from Native American stories to describe the picaro in sixteenth- and seventeenth-century European literature hides the essential differences between the two figures.

Key Lines?
Paragraph 1, Sentence 2 (P1, S2) - Critics' view on similarities between picaro and trickster
P2, S3 - Author's conclusion
P3, S2 - Author's key support: primary distinction between picaro and trickster

Meta-Structure?
Correcting the Record: This passage utilizes a Correcting the Record Meta-Structure. In such passages, the author typically paraphrases a belief, approach, or idea held by some before explaining why that belief, approach, or idea is incorrect. This passage follows that pattern closely. In the first paragraph, the author paraphrases some literary critics' behavior — appropriating the term "trickster" from Native American stories to describe the picaro in sixteenth- and seventeenth-century European literature. At the beginning of the second paragraph, the author argues why that critical behavior is misguided — by using the term "trickster" for the picaro, critics brush over the essential differences between the two figures (P2, S1).* The author supports that record-correction in the second, third, and fourth paragraphs by showing how the picaro and trickster are quite different.

In Correcting the Record passages, the main point is generally the author's explanation of why the misconception is false. The author summarized this view at the beginning of the second paragraph. As the author states, critics' use of the term "trickster" from Native American stories to describe the picaro in sixteenth- and seventeenth-century European literature hides the essential differences between the two figures (P2, S1).

*For this reason, some test-takers may view this as a Rebutting Critics passage. Although the author corrects literary critics' behavior, the "Critics" in "Rebutting Critics" typically refer to people criticizing something. One could also mount a good argument that this is a Criticizing a Viewpoint passage. In such passages, the "Viewpoint" usually gets more space than the single sentence dedicated to literary critics' view here. So, we think this passage is best viewed as a Correcting the Record passage. Still, even if you viewed this passage as a Rebutting Critics or Criticizing the Viewpoint passage, you'd wind up with the same main point.

Comparison: The main point of this passage is that using the term "trickster" to describe the "picaro" obscures the essential differences between the two figures. So, it should come as no surprise that the predominant minor Meta-Structure used in this passage is comparisons. The author notes several similarities between the trickster and picaro — and, more saliently, draws many distinctions between the two — throughout this passage. There are far too many similarities and differences to note here (they're all included in the Passage Summary above). However, we are bound to get at least a few questions on these, so it's a good idea to highlight or underline the location of these comparisons. We can do so by highlighting or underlining comparative words like "both" (P1, S2), "similar" (P2, S4), "while" (P3, S2), and "rather" (P3, S6).

Last Thoughts?
This passage highlights fundamental differences between the trickster and the picaro. To save us from some passage-research sessions, it can help if we try to remember a few distinctions drawn between the two figures. We don't need to memorize all the details, just a few important ones. If memorization isn't your strong suit, you can even write a T-chart on your scratch paper with these salient differences. We recommend that you try to remember that the picaro is satirical, openly engages in vices, and exposes society's hypocrisies. We also recommend that you remember the trickster is mythical, possesses human flaws, and attempts to instruct people on how not to behave. Remembering these few key details might save you some time and fact-finding missions as you progress through the questions.