Analyzing Idea Development in an Essay Answers

Read the excerpt from "How the Grimm Brothers Saved the Fairy Tale."Despite difficult personal problems and meager financial support from 1805 to 1812, the brothers proved themselves to be innovative scholars in the new field of German philology by publishing articles and books on medieval literature. In fact, they would be surprised to learn that they are more famous today for their tales than for their superb philological studies, which include pioneering work on German sound shifts, and the founding of the voluminous German Dictionary in 1854. But it was their training in philology and the demands that they placed on themselves as researchers that assisted their collecting and editing the tales.

Which element of a text best helps the reader determine the central idea?

Ruth is writing an essay about the reasons for changing a folk tale from a dark, grotesque story to a story that is appropriate for children.How should Ruth organize her writing to provide the best structure for her essay? Select two options.Ruth should use the cause-and-effect structure to show that the darkness of the earlier stories caused authors to change them in order to be appropriate for children.Ruth should use the problem-solution structure to show why the dark stories are problematic, and how changing them solves the problem.Ruth should use the problem-solution structure to show that the darkness of earlier stories was the rationale for rewriting them for children.Ruth should give examples of the problems that dark stories can cause for younger audiences, and the changes that can solve the problem.Ruth should describe the effects of dark stories on children, and the changes that lessen those effects.

Read the excerpt from an essay about fairy tales.The Grimms’ fairy tales address the experiences of people who are living in difficult situations. For example, there is the story of Rapunzel. There is also the story of Hansel and Gretel, who had to escape their house in order to find food and were locked out.Which revision would best help the author support the thesis more effectively?

Read the excerpt from "How the Grimm Brothers Saved the Fairy Tale."When Jacob (b. 1785) and Wilhelm (b. 1786) began collecting folk tales and songs at the beginning of the nineteenth century, they were precocious students at the University of Marburg, still in their teens. They grew up quite fast, plagued by money problems and caring for their siblings—their father died in 1796, leaving the once middle-class family in poverty. Their situation was further aggravated by the rampant Napoleonic Wars. Jacob interrupted his studies to serve the Hessian War Commission, although Wilhelm passed his law exams and found work as a low-paid librarian in the royal library. In 1807, Jacob lost his position with the War Commission, when the French occupied Kassel, but he was then hired as a librarian for the new King Jérome, Napoleon’s brother, who now ruled Westphalia. Amidst all the upheavals, their mother died in 1808, and Jacob and Wilhelm became fully responsible for their three younger brothers and sister.

Yael is writing an essay about the development of folk tales. Read the excerpt from her essay.Every culture throughout time has had its own folk tales, which were first transmitted from person to person with the technology available at the time. Folk tales began as an oral tradition. With the invention of written language, folk tales were recorded by community scribes, until 1450, when the printing press was invented. The result was a wider distribution of folk tales, which were collected in books.

Read the excerpt from "How the Grimm Brothers Saved the Fairy Tale."In contrast to the final 1857 edition, most of the tales in the first edition are shorter and sparser. They have a rawness that was later to be refined. For example, "Rapunzel” is embellished a great deal in the final edition:First EditionOnce upon a time there lived a husband and wife who had been wishing for a child for many years, but it had all been in vain. Finally, the woman became pregnant.Now, in the back of their house the couple had a small window that overlooked a fairy’s garden filled with all kinds of flowers and herbs. But nobody ever dared to enter it.Seventh EditionOnce upon a time there was a husband and wife who for quite some time had been wishing in vain for a child. Finally, the dear Lord gave the wife a sign of hope that their wish would be fulfilled. Now, in the back of their house the couple had a small window that overlooked a splendid garden filled with the most beautiful flowers and herbs. The garden, however, was surrounded by a high wall, and nobody dared enter it because it belonged to a sorceress, who was very powerful and feared by all.

When a text encourages the reader to believe or do something, the author's purpose is