Electra is a circa 420–410 BCE play by Sophocles, translated in 1870 by R.C. Jebb. Electra, who is in mourning...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Electra is a circa 420–410 BCE play by Sophocles, translated in 1870 by R.C. Jebb. Electra, who is in mourning for her dead father and her long-absent brother, is aware of the intensity of her grief but believes it to be justified: ______
Which quotation from Electra most effectively illustrates the claim?
'O thou pure sunlight, and thou air, earth's canopy, how often have ye heard the strains of my lament, the wild blows dealt against this bleeding breast, when dark night fails!'
'Send to me my brother; for I have no more the strength to bear up alone against the load of grief that weighs me down.'
'I know my own passion, it escapes me not; but, seeing that the causes are so dire, will never curb these frenzied plaints, while life is in me.'
'But never will I cease from dirge and sore lament, while I look on the trembling rays of the bright stars, or on this light of day.'
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Electra is a circa 420-410 BCE play by Sophocles, translated in 1870 by R.C. Jebb.' |
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| 'Electra, who is in mourning for her dead father and her long-absent brother,' |
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| 'is aware of the intensity of her grief but believes it to be justified: ______' |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Electra is conscious of her intense grief but considers it justified given her circumstances.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes the historical context of the play, introduces Electra's mourning situation, and makes a specific claim about her self-awareness and justification of her grief that needs supporting evidence.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
This is a fill-in-the-blank question asking us to choose the best logical connector. The answer must create the right relationship between what comes before and after the blank.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- It should show Electra demonstrating awareness of her grief's intensity
- It should show her believing this grief is justified or reasonable given her situation
- It should capture both the emotional intensity and her conscious recognition of it
'O thou pure sunlight, and thou air, earth's canopy, how often have ye heard the strains of my lament, the wild blows dealt against this bleeding breast, when dark night fails!'
✗ Incorrect
- Shows intense lament and physical manifestations of grief
- Demonstrates the intensity but lacks awareness of it or justification
- Focuses on the emotional display rather than self-reflection
'Send to me my brother; for I have no more the strength to bear up alone against the load of grief that weighs me down.'
✗ Incorrect
- Shows she's overwhelmed by grief and needs support
- Demonstrates intensity but suggests she's overcome by it rather than aware and justified
'I know my own passion, it escapes me not; but, seeing that the causes are so dire, will never curb these frenzied plaints, while life is in me.'
✓ Correct
- 'I know my own passion' shows clear self-awareness
- 'seeing that the causes are so dire' provides her justification
- 'frenzied plaints' demonstrates the intensity
- Perfectly matches all three elements of the claim
'But never will I cease from dirge and sore lament, while I look on the trembling rays of the bright stars, or on this light of day.'
✗ Incorrect
- Shows commitment to ongoing lament
- Demonstrates intensity and persistence but lacks the self-awareness and justification elements