The following text is from Anthony Trollope's 1855 novel The Warden. Charles James is the son of a high-ranking clergy member.
Charles James was an exact and careful boy; he never committed himself; he well knew how much was expected from the eldest son of the Archdeacon of Barchester, and was therefore mindful not to mix too freely with other boys. He had not the great talents of his younger brothers, but he exceeded them in judgment and propriety of demeanor; his fault, if he had one, was an over-attention to words instead of things; there was a thought too much finesse about him, and, as even his father sometimes told him, he was too fond of a compromise.
Which choice best states the function of the phrase "if he had one" in the text as a whole?
A. It concedes that Charles James's attempts to gain the approval of those who know him are sometimes to little avail.
B. It signals a shift in focus from describing Charles James's fine traits to criticizing his tendency to excessively fear being the source of conflict.
C. It acknowledges that the qualities in Charles James the narrator goes on to describe may not actually be undesirable characteristics.
D. It anticipates readers' objections to the narrator's criticism of Charles James's faults.
Answer (2)
In the given excerpt from Anthony Trollope's novel 'The Warden', the phrase 'if he had one' serves an important function in understanding the narrator's perspective on Charles James, the character described.
Contextual Background : The passage discusses Charles James, who is portrayed as a conscientious and proper boy. The narrator has already highlighted his judgment, propriety, and precise nature.
Critique of Character Flaws : The phrase 'if he had one' introduces a subtle critique of Charles James. It suggests that he may not have obvious faults or flaws, but it proceeds to identify a potential character flaw anyway.
Implication of Possible Flaws : By using 'if he had one', the narrator implies that while he may have a perceived flaw, it's not necessarily a significant or obvious one, acknowledging that the traits may not truly be negative.
Neutral or Positive Traits : The traits mentioned afterwards could be viewed positively by some, as they relate to carefulness and deliberation, though they do suggest an over-focus on compromise and words.
Therefore, the phrase 'if he had one' functions to acknowledge that while Charles James could have a fault, the qualities described might not actually be undesirable. Thus, the correct answer is C: It acknowledges that the qualities in Charles James the narrator goes on to describe may not actually be undesirable characteristics.
The phrase 'if he had one' in the excerpt indicates a subtle criticism of Charles James's character, suggesting he has a flaw but that it may not be significant. It acknowledges that while he might have a potential fault, the characteristics described—though indicating caution—may not truly be negative traits. Thus, the correct answer is C.
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