Difficulty: Medium

Average Score: 50%

This passage is adapted from material published in 2001.
For Paula Gunn Allen, a Laguna Indian writer, the traditional Laguna stories that appear in Leslie Marmon Silko's novel Ceremony (1977) constitute evidence of improper publication of secret clan material. Silko herself has stated that the source of these stories is Laguna oral tradition, a tradition she experienced directly growing up on the Laguna Pueblo reservation in New Mexico. Yet though Silko may have recalled the gist of any number of such stories prior to writing Ceremony, it is also the case that all but two of the traditional stories in the novel are known to have been taken. sometimes verbatim, from preexisting ethnographic print texts rather than immediately from remembered oral performance. Even if we agree with Gunn Allen that the original performers and transcribers of these stories might have been guilty of violating clan secrets, the fact that such texts exist in print outside Ceremony, and existed well before Silko was born, puts a very different face on the charge of giving away cultural property. Rather than revealing clan secrets. Silko is repatriating Laguna "artifacts," rescuing them from their status as lifeless ethnographic museum pieces and returning them to circulation as part of an ongoing, living story

The primary purpose of the passage is to

Rationale

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

The passage primarily addresses the ethical considerations surrounding the publication of traditional Laguna stories in Leslie Marmon Silko’s novel, emphasizing the complexity of cultural ownership and the role of repatriation versus appropriation.

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

While the passage touches upon the origins of the stories, its main focus is not on challenging their traditional status, but rather on the ethical implications of their publication. The argument centers more on how these stories are repurposed rather than questioning their classification as traditional.

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

This choice correctly reflects the passage's intent, as it discusses the ethical concerns raised by Paula Gunn Allen regarding cultural property. The author argues that Silko's work serves to repatriate these stories, framing the act of publication as a restoration rather than a violation of tradition.

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

While the passage mentions that many stories were in print prior to the novel, this is not the primary purpose. The existence of these stories in print serves as a supporting detail in the larger discussion about ethical implications rather than being the main focus.

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

The passage does not primarily address the accuracy of Silko's transcription of the stories. While it acknowledges the source of the stories, its primary concern lies in the implications of their publication and the cultural context surrounding it.

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

Though the passage hints at differing perspectives, it does not explicitly present two contradictory views. Instead, it supports the notion that repatriation of stories is a valid and ethical approach, focusing on one side of the discussion rather than presenting an even-handed debate.

Conclusion

The passage centers on the ethical implications of publishing traditional stories within the context of cultural ownership and repatriation. By addressing the concerns raised by Gunn Allen while highlighting Silko's intent to revitalize and circulate Laguna stories, the author effectively disputes the notion of cultural appropriation and frames the publication as a means of preserving and honoring tradition.

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