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Difficulty: EasyRhetorical Function of Specific Word Choices

When the pioneering architect Julia Morgan was commissioned to design the Hearst Castle in 1919, she faced a daunting client and an unforgiving landscape. William Randolph Hearst was notorious for his mercurial tastes, frequently demanding that entire wings of the estate be dismantled and rebuilt to accommodate new artistic acquisitions. Rather than protesting these disruptive whims, Morgan adopted a strategy of quiet resilience. She viewed Hearst not as an obstacle, but as a collaborator with a chaotic creative energy. Morgan’s colleagues often marveled at her patience, noting that she could redesign a terrace three times without showing a flicker of frustration. To Morgan, the constantly shifting blueprint was not a failure of planning, but a living canvas that reflected the eccentric spirit of its owner.

Based on the passage, the author's use of the phrase 'living canvas' near the end of the passage primarily serves to do which of the following?

  1. A
    Show that Morgan preferred painting on fabric to drafting blueprints for physical buildings.
  2. B
    Suggest that Hearst wanted Morgan to use actual canvas screens to decorate the interior walls of the estate.
  3. Characterize Morgan's view of the architectural design as an ongoing, adaptable work of art.Answer
  4. D
    Emphasize that William Randolph Hearst was a demanding client who collected expensive fine art.

Answer

Characterize Morgan's view of the architectural design as an ongoing, adaptable work of art.
The author uses the metaphorical phrase 'living canvas' to contrast with 'failure of planning.' By describing the changing blueprint as a 'living canvas,' the author illustrates that Morgan viewed the fluidity of the project as a creative, evolving work of art rather than an annoying frustration.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Locate the phrase 'living canvas' in the passage and read the surrounding sentence to determine what it refers to.
The phrase is used to describe Morgan's attitude toward the 'constantly shifting blueprint.'
Analyzing the immediate context reveals the subject being described by the specific word choice.
2
Analyze the figurative meaning of the words 'living' and 'canvas' within the context of Morgan's creative relationship with Hearst.
A 'canvas' suggests a work of art, and 'living' implies something that grows and changes, representing Morgan's view of the design as an adaptable creative process.
Determining the rhetorical function of the metaphor helps connect the author's choice of words to the passage's main themes.
3
Evaluate the choices to find the option that matches this interpretation of flexibility and artistic appreciation.
The correct option describes the design as an ongoing, adaptable work of art, which perfectly mirrors the concept of a 'living canvas.'
Comparing the choices against the contextual analysis identifies the only supported answer.

Key Concept

Identifying the rhetorical purpose of metaphorical language and specific word choices in context.
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Rhetorical Function of Specific Word Choices

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