The Would-Be Gentleman

Question

by Olfson, Lewy

PHILOSOPHY TEACHER: Logic instructs us in the three processes of reasoning.

JOURDAIN: And what are the three processes of reasoning?

PHILOSOPHY TEACHER: Why, the first process, the second process, and the third process, of course!

JOURDAIN: Oh, no, that sounds much too complicated. Teach me how to write beautiful letters; there’s something I can use.

PHILOSOPHY TEACHER: Do you wish to write in verse?

JOURDAIN: No, no, none of your verse stuff for me!

PHILOSOPHY TEACHER: Then you wish to learn prose?

JOURDAIN: No, neither verse nor prose.

PHILOSOPHY TEACHER: But it must be in one or the other. Whatever isn’t prose is verse, and whatever isn’t verse is prose!

The Would-Be Gentleman, by Moliere, adapted by Lewy Olfson © This play is reprinted from Plays, The Drama Magazine for Young People with the permission of the publisher Plays/Sterling Partners Inc. 897 Washington Street #600160, Newton, MA 02460

Question
Use the passage to answer the question.

Which theme is developed in this passage?

(1 point)
Responses

Philosophy is the art of learning how to reason well.
Philosophy is the art of learning how to reason well.

Writing a beautiful letter is a practical skill.
Writing a beautiful letter is a practical skill.

The pursuit of true knowledge takes time and effort.
The pursuit of true knowledge takes time and effort.

Poetry and prose are not the same thing.
Poetry and prose are not the same thing.
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Answer 1

The theme developed in this passage is:

Writing a beautiful letter is a practical skill.

This is evident from Jourdain's desire to learn how to write letters rather than focus on the theoretical aspects of logic introduced by the Philosophy Teacher. He expresses a clear interest in practical communication skills rather than abstract reasoning.