What does it mean when the passage states a dead poet is "owned without opposition"?

What does it mean when the passage states a dead poet is "owned without opposition"?

• A. The poet is no longer able to challenge the public's response to the poet's life and work.
• B. Other writers will no longer oppose the poet's views.
• C. Readers will no longer intrude on the poet's private life.
• D. The poet's admirers will buy up all the poet's books and relics.

Answer: (A)

When the passage states that a dead poet is "owned without opposition," it signifies that the poet can no longer respond to or contest the interpretations, opinions, or reactions from the public regarding their life and work. Once the poet has passed away, their legacy becomes a subject of analysis and critique that is solely in the hands of readers, scholars, and critics. This concept refers to the idea that the poet's voice is now silenced in the face of external commentary; thus, any responses to their art or life are unchallenged because of their absence. The phrase captures a sense of finality and the power dynamics that shift once an artist is no longer living, as they cannot defend their position, clarify their intent, or respond to misinterpretations. The focus is on the lack of opposition or contradiction to the interpretations made about their work, reflecting how art and legacy can be manipulated by those who engage with them in the absence of the creator. This highlights the complexities of legacy, ownership, and interpretation in literary Studies.

When the passage states that a dead poet is "owned without opposition," it signifies that the poet can no longer respond to or contest the interpretations, opinions, or reactions from the public regarding their life and work. Once the poet has passed away, their legacy becomes a subject of analysis and critique that is solely in the hands of readers, scholars, and critics. This concept refers to the idea that the poet's voice is now silenced in the face of external commentary; thus, any responses to their art or life are unchallenged because of their absence.

The phrase captures a sense of finality and the power dynamics that shift once an artist is no longer living, as they cannot defend their position, clarify their intent, or respond to misinterpretations. The focus is on the lack of opposition or contradiction to the interpretations made about their work, reflecting how art and legacy can be manipulated by those who engage with them in the absence of the creator. This highlights the complexities of legacy, ownership, and interpretation in literary Studies.