Question

This question has two parts. First, answer Part A. Then, answer Part B. Part A What is a central idea of this passage? American Gothic represents Grant Wood's version of life in medieval times. American Gothic is a cartoon-like joke. American Gothic represents Grand Wood's personal view of midwesterners. American Gothic is a political statement. Question 2 Part B Select the one sentence that reveals the most about the central idea in Part A. “Some of these take-offs are simply created to make people smile.” “If his intention had been to mock and embarrass the people of the Midwest, then he would have also been mocking his own family and himself.” “The irony is that the original painting itself may have been making more of a comment on society than many observers realize.” “Gothic design is usually associated with a much more elaborate style of architecture than was ordinarily found in small midwestern towns of the 1930s.” “American Gothic is one of the most mimicked of all American paintings.”

Answer 1

Answer to Part A: American Gothic represents Grant Wood's personal view of midwesterners.

The speaker in the text intends to defend the meaning of the painting from claims of its mocking depictions of midwesterners. It is stated a the painting had a deeper meaning about society, one that goes beyond the common observer's understaing.

The rest of the options are not the text's central idea since:

• The atmosphere of the painting does not revolve around medieval times, since that era ended in the 15th century. The figures in the painting represent americans, nation that was founded much later in time.
• In the text, it is not considered that the painting is a joke - quite the contrary -. The counter-argument to this is supported by the speaker.
• There are no political parties involved in this context, which denies the fact that the painting is a political statement.

Answer to Part B: "The irony is that the original painting itself may have been making more of a comment on society than many observers realize".

This statement supports the idea that beyond the observer's judgement on the depiction of the characters in the painting, the real meaning of this work might comprise the painter's personal view on the society being disputed over, the midwesterns.