The first sentence establishes that the Bayeux Tapestry is an important artistic work, but the main idea must include the author's point about why it is an important artistic work that showcases "the complex nature of violence and politics." Three ideas are mentioned in the passage. First, that the "pro-Norman" narrative of the tapestry nevertheless depicts "the doomed King Harold" in a complex way, as a treacherous man but one struggling with conflicting loyalties. Second, the tapestry provides information on eleventh-century Europe, given it was created "within just a few years of the events it depicts," and that few other sources survive from that era. Third, that the tapestry portrays the Normans as heroic despite "making no attempt to downplay the Normans' inhumane deeds." The first and third points are the ones that address the author's intention mentioned in the first sentence, so evaluate the answer choices and eliminate any that do not discuss one or the other.
Eliminate (A) because it contradicts the first point, that the tapestry's pro-Norman narrative nevertheless depicts King Harold as a well-rounded figure, someone who is treacherous yet struggling with conflicting loyalties. Choice (B) addresses both the first and third points, so it is correct. On test day, you can select (B) and move on, but for reference: (C) is incorrect because there is no mention in the passage of any satirical element, as the upstanding nature of the Normans is simply presented alongside their brutal use of violence; (D) mentions the contrast between the Normans being upstanding and their violent means, but no reference is made in the text to arguments among scholars.
