Question

How does author’s purpose in literary works differ from author's purpose in informational texts?

Authors of literary works only want to entertain readers, while authors of informational texts want to convince readers of a point of view.

In literary works, the author’s purpose is often subtle or subconscious, while in informational texts, the author’s purpose is more straightforward.

Authors of literary works will usually have a clear, set purpose for writing, while authors of informational texts will usually be vague about why they are writing.

In literary works, the author’s purpose is usually to persuade or convince, while in informational texts, the author’s purpose is usually to inform or explain.

Answer 1

The second statement is the best choice.

Rationale: Literary works (novels, poems, stories) often have purposes that are layered or implied—to entertain, evoke emotion, explore themes, or provoke thought—and those purposes can be subtle. Informational texts (articles, textbooks, reports) usually have a more direct, explicit aim—to inform, explain, or instruct—so the author’s purpose is generally more straightforward.

(There are exceptions: some literary works explicitly persuade, and some informational pieces try to persuade, but the distinction above describes the typical difference.)