Enigma and Edifying:Read the actual passage!!!!

[MrPrez]

<p>Exactly.</p>

<p>On the other hand, it doesn’t take long for this narrative to seem more like a riddle than a fable. Leafing through the pages of the memorial book, staring dumbly at their blur of ideographs, I realized just how little I know about those years of Baba’s life before he arrived in America, and before I arrived in the world…"</p>

<p>More like a riddle than a fable..
How the hell does fabricating fit in this context?
Enigma/Edifying without a doubt.</p>

[Godfatherbob]

<p>

In this context, great narrative seemed like a riddle because it didn’t give any specific, meaninful information about her father. Even though she once depended on this story, she realized that it didn’t say anything about her father. It was only a puzzling, frustrating, enigmatic story far from being a fable, a meaningful and edifying story.

</p>

<p>When I clicked on this thread it was to say, “I give up, the answer is fabricating.” But this is a great analysis. Assuming this sentence was in the SAT passage, it supports 100% what you’re saying:</p>

<p>“I realize just how little I know about those years of Baba’s life before he arrived in America”</p>

<p>Remember my analysis before, where and [y], riddles and fables, enigmas and edifications, are opposites. In the above sentence, he elaborates on the former, riddles, stating a dearth of knowledge. If x equals a dearth of knowledge, then y MUST equal knowledge. Here is the definition of “edify” given by Merriam-Webster:</p>

<p>" to instruct and improve especially in moral and religious knowledge : uplift; also : enlighten, inform "</p>

<p>I’m going to focus on the latter definition, to enlighten or inform.</p>

<p>Here the definition of to fabricate:</p>

<p>“2: construct, manufacture; specifically : to construct from diverse and usually standardized parts”</p>

<p>I’m going to use the definition which most SUPPORTS the use of “fabricating” in this context, to construct or manufacture.</p>

<p>Enigma and puzzlement both fit the context, and so I will NOT insert them into this next analogy. I will instead use my aforesaid “value” for x, a dearth of knowledge. Now, keeping in mind that x and y are opposites, which makes MORE sense:</p>

<p>a) x = a dearth of knowledge, y = instruction, enlightenment</p>

<p>b) x = a dearth of knowledge, y = construction, manufacturing</p>

<p>Thoughts?</p>

[WMHS]

<p>Godfatherbob, I think you picked the wrong definition for fabrication.
To fabricate is to tell a lie, deceitfully inventing a story or facts.
The second definition (the one you used) relates to the actual manufacture of intricate materials.</p>

<p>More of “the right word:”

If a child hides his sandwich under the sofa cushions and tells you that a dinosaur ate it, this would be a fabrication, which is a story that is intended to deceive. Unlike a figment, which is mostly imagined, a fabrication is a false but thoughtfully constructed story in which some truth is often interwoven (: the city’s safety record was a fabrication designed to lure tourists downtown).

</p>

<p>Also, I wouldn’t assume that the SAT is looking for clear opposites. Riddles and fables certainly are not opposites, although they have definite contrasts.</p>

<p>

On the other hand, it doesn’t take long for this narrative to seem more like a riddle than a fable.

If you were to assume that “fabricated” was correct, how could a story begin to seem like it was false and then the knowledge is lost?
Now assume that “edifying” is correct: the story begins to tell an enlightening tale, but the many missing pieces show there’s actually a dearth of knowledge.</p>

[Godfatherbob]

<p>^I picked the definition of fabrication that most suited the passage for a reason. I wanted to show that even the most fitting definition is not correct. Stating the obvious, i.e. that “fables” in this context were not items of subterfuge, was not my intention.</p>