Read this excerpt from Ani's evaluation of Dan DeLuca's argument in his article "Dylan's Nobel Prize Settles Debate: Rock Lyrics Are Poetry."

Question

DeLuca offers a haphazard patchwork of reasoning and evidence that leaves the reader wondering whether he believes his own claim. He remains focused on Dylan's body of work, quoting not only supporters of the Nobel committee's choice, but also detractors. DeLuca also includes a liberal sampling of Dylan's song lyrics, but he largely leaves them to speak for themselves.

What evidence from the article best supports Ani’s evaluation? Select two options.

"The Swedish Academy's decision to honor Dylan set off an online debate, with Scottish Trainspotting novelist Irvine Welsh calling it 'an ill conceived nostalgia award wrenched from the rancid prostates of senile, gibbering hippies.'"
"On one end of Dylan's songwriting spectrum is the vengeful, resolute, and timeless 'Masters Of War' . . . . It’s high dudgeon at its finest: ‘Let me ask you one question: Is your money that good? / Will it buy you forgiveness? Do you think that it could?'"
"Many of Dylan’s most fervently loved songs—some of which actually are love songs—date from the 1960s, and his being honored at age 75 can be seen as an ultimate affirmation for the baby boomer generation."
"'Dylan has the status of an icon. His influence on contemporary music is profound, and he is the object of a steady stream of secondary literature,' the Nobel committee wrote."
"And it’s a good thing [his lyrics] have been published, because if you’ve gone to see the famously sneering and syllable-garbling Dylan play live in recent years, you probably couldn’t understand a word he was singing."

Answer 1

To support Ani's evaluation of Dan DeLuca's argument, the two most relevant options are:

1. "The Swedish Academy's decision to honor Dylan set off an online debate, with Scottish Trainspotting novelist Irvine Welsh calling it 'an ill conceived nostalgia award wrenched from the rancid prostates of senile, gibbering hippies.'"

   • This statement illustrates the mixed reactions to Dylan's Nobel Prize, reflecting DeLuca's inclusion of detractors and illustrating the "haphazard patchwork of reasoning" that Ani describes.

2. "And it’s a good thing [his lyrics] have been published, because if you’ve gone to see the famously sneering and syllable-garbling Dylan play live in recent years, you probably couldn’t understand a word he was singing."

   • This comment underscores the challenges in evaluating Dylan's work, hinting at the ambivalence surrounding his performance and the impact of his lyrics. It adds to the sense of uncertainty about DeLuca's argument, aligning with Ani's critique of DeLuca's approach.

These selections highlight the complexity and mixed opinions surrounding Dylan's work as discussed by DeLuca, reinforcing Ani's points about the lack of clarity and focus in the argument.