I am stuck with the process of a verbal question so need your help.
Q) Since 1813 reaction to Jane Austen’s novels has oscillated between ______ and condescension; but in general later writers have esteemed her works more highly than did most of her literary ______.
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Division: between, and, but and than, condescension is negative word, so go for positive and than points to comparison between Jane and her counterparts so, counterparts fits aptly.
I have a different process than user8509. “Oscillated” means back and forth, indicating contrast, so I choose something opposite of condescension for the first blank (“praise” or something else positive, same as 8509).
My evaluation is that “more highly than” is actually contrasting “later writers” with whatever’s in the second blank. Later writers contrasts with “writers of her time”, so I make “her literary _____” = “writers of her time”, and put “contemporaries” in the blank.