Question 3

The primary purpose of the passage is to dispute a claim about the ethical implications of publishing traditional stories in Ceremony.

The passage primarily addresses the controversy surrounding the publication of traditional Laguna stories in Leslie Marmon Silko's novel Ceremony, particularly focusing on the ethical considerations raised by Paula Gunn Allen regarding the violation of clan secrets.

A) challenge an assertion about whether the stories used in Ceremony can be considered traditional

This option is incorrect because the passage does not primarily challenge the traditional status of the stories. Instead, it emphasizes the ethical implications of their publication and the context surrounding it, rather than questioning their authenticity as traditional narratives.

B) dispute a claim about the ethical implications of publishing traditional stories in Ceremony

This option is correct as the passage directly engages with the ethical concerns raised by Gunn Allen regarding the publication of clan materials. It argues that, while there may be issues with how the stories were sourced, they also exist outside of Ceremony in print, thus complicating the ethical debate.

C) establish that most of the traditional stories used in Ceremony existed in print long before the novel was written

While the passage does mention that many of the stories had been previously published, this is not its primary purpose. The focus is on the ethical implications of Silko's use of these stories, rather than simply establishing their prior existence in print.

D) contest the fidelity of the transcription of the traditional stories used in Ceremony

This option is incorrect as the passage does not primarily contest the accuracy of the transcription. Instead, it highlights the broader ethical issues related to the publication of traditional stories, rather than focusing specifically on transcription fidelity.

E) present two contradictory views of the proper role of traditional stories in novels such as Ceremony

Although the passage does touch on differing perspectives, it does not primarily serve to present two contradictory views. The focus is more on disputing the ethical claims rather than merely presenting opposing opinions.

Conclusion

The passage effectively disputes the ethical concerns raised about the publication of traditional stories in Ceremony by highlighting that these stories existed in print prior to the novel's creation. This context challenges the notion of violating clan secrets and reframes Silko's work as a repatriation of cultural artifacts rather than an ethical breach. Other options fail to capture the passage's main intent, which is centered on ethical implications rather than authenticity or transcription fidelity.