Question 20

The African Union Church's hymn book did not conform to the prevailing critical criteria to be classified as literature in the 1920s.

The extract indicates that narrowing views about literature in the 1920s contributed to misinterpretations of various texts. Dorothy Porter's efforts to include collectively written documents, like the hymnbook, highlight how such works were overlooked due to not fitting the era's limited definitions of literature.

A) a strong but unacknowledged influence on subsequent works by Black authors.

This option is incorrect as the passage does not discuss the influence of the African Union Church's hymnbook on later works by Black authors. Instead, it focuses on the hymnbook's classification and the evolving understanding of African American literature.

B) did not conform to the prevailing critical criteria to be classified as literature in the 1920s.

This option is correct, as the passage describes how the prevailing literary criteria in the 1920s led to the exclusion of texts like the African Union Church's hymnbook from being recognized as literature. Porter's reframing of authorship was essential in addressing this oversight.

C) was read more widely in the 1920s than it had been in the decade of its publication.

This choice is incorrect because the passage does not provide any information regarding the readership of the hymnbook compared to its original publication. The focus is on its classification and recognition rather than its popularity.

D) was a well-known example of early African American literature before Porter's work on the field.

This option is incorrect as well. The passage suggests that the hymnbook was not recognized as literature during the 1920s, indicating that it was not widely acknowledged as a significant example of early African American literature until Porter's efforts.

E) did not have its correct date of publication recognized until Porter's bibliography was released.

This option is incorrect. The passage does not mention any issues regarding the date of publication for the hymnbook, instead emphasizing the need for a broader understanding of authorship and literature.

Conclusion

The evidence provided in the extract clearly illustrates that the African Union Church's hymnbook was not considered literature according to the restrictive criteria of the 1920s. This misunderstanding necessitated Dorothy Porter's work to expand the definition of authorship and highlight the significance of such texts, which were otherwise marginalized. All other options fail to align with the passage's focus on classification and recognition within the literary field.