Pastoral fiction in the 20th century became more urban-aware by emphasizing which?

• A. Pastoral fiction always idealizes rural life.
• B. Pastoral fiction ignores urban issues.
• C. Pastoral fiction became more utopian.
• D. Pastoral fiction de-emphasizes idyllic countryside and highlights urban issues.

Answer: (D)

Pastoral fiction in the 20th century shifts toward presenting urban life as a central concern rather than idealizing rural scenes. Writers use rural imagery to comment on city life, addressing issues that come with modernization—work, class, crowding, migration, and social change—so the countryside serves as a lens for understanding urban realities. This means the hallmark is a de-emphasis on idyllic countryside in favor of highlighting urban concerns and their impact on people. The other options misrepresent the shift: pastoral there wasn’t a blanket return to idealization, nor did it ignore urban issues, nor did it necessarily move toward utopian visions.