composer / Ants had swarmed over the food Jack left out overnight.
1.
"Modern literary theory puts more emphasis on the reader than the composer of the piece."
→Is the word composer used properly here? According to many dictionaries, "composer" only has the meaning of a person who writes music. So I don't think it is suitable in this sentence. How about using "author"?

2.
"Ants had swarmed over the food Jack left out overnight."
→Is the verb tense correct? I don't know why the past perfect tense is used first, but not used in the Jack-clause. Why not this one? - "Ants swarmed over the food Jack had left out overnight".

Thanks!

Question

composer / Ants had swarmed over the food Jack left out overnight.
1.
"Modern literary theory puts more emphasis on the reader than the composer of the piece."
→Is the word composer used properly here? According to many dictionaries, "composer" only has the meaning of a person who writes music. So I don't think it is suitable in this sentence. How about using "author"?

2.
"Ants had swarmed over the food Jack left out overnight."
→Is the verb tense correct? I don't know why the past perfect tense is used first, but not used in the Jack-clause. Why not this one? - "Ants swarmed over the food Jack had left out overnight".

Thanks!

Answer

You can compose a piece of writing, I wouldn't say it is used incorrectly. It's most commonly used to describe someone who writes music, but like I said, it's not an incorrect usage in the given sentence. You could use 'author' though.

I agree with your interpretation of the second sentence. It needs the past perfect.

Answer

1. A composer is someone who puts/ arranges things together and it's most commonly associated with musicians, but this usage isn't incorrect. The word composer fits the context. Yet, I do agree 'composer' could be exchanged with 'author' for more clarity!

2. I think this is a stylistic choice. Perhaps the author wanted place a greater emphasis on the first clause.