The themes that Rita Dove explores in her poetry is universal, encompassing much of the human condition while occasionally deals with racial issues.

A. is universal, encompassing much of the human condition while occasionally deals

B. is universal, encompassing much of the human condition, also occasionally it deals

C. are universal, they encompass much of the human condition and occasionally deals

D. are universal, encompassing much of the human condition while occasionally dealing

E. are universal, they encompass much of the human condition, also occasionally are dealing

IMO:D

The themes that Rita Dove explores in her poetry is universal, encompassing much of the human condition while occasionally deals with racial issues.
A. is universal, encompassing much of the human condition while occasionally deals
B. is universal, encompassing much of the human condition, also occasionally it deals
C. are universal, they encompass much of the human condition and occasionally deals
D. are universal, encompassing much of the human condition while occasionally dealing
E. are universal, they encompass much of the human condition, also occasionally are dealing


First by POE
Themes (pl) -----so we need 'are' and not 'is' . ------ A,B- out
Theme(pl) require deal (pl) and not deals(S). -------- B,C, A - out (though A,B were already eliminated )
left with D and E
they encompass ...., also occasionally are dealing (not parallel . they encompass .....,also occasionally dea)l- would have looked better. --------So E is out . Left with D
In D: encompassing parallel to dealing

Now regarding the question for which this post is there
IMO: I think while here refers to at the same time.

Note: At the same time need not mean for same amount of time or for same number of times
Like in your example:

'please light the fire while I'm cooking.'

In this you don't mean to say please keep lighting the fire . You only mean to say light once or (few or more)times when the fire is not there while I'm cooking

It cannot be contrast here as 'dealing with racial issue is not complete opposite to encompassing human condition'. Its looks to be a slightly different topic (human condition, racial issues)

E.g I like to play tennis while occasionally I also play football.

(We don't mean contrast things or similar things . we only mean to say different things.
It would be a debate to say that they are contrast things or similar things. As both are sports (similar) but they are played differently (Contrast. In one, we use hands and other we use legs)
D looks like to say different topics (not whether they or contrast or similar):

in D: much of it is human condition . At the same time occasionally deals with racial issues.

If your question is why 'while' here is not followed by a clause(subject and verb)

I got the explanation for this 'while' from the below link. hope it answers your question

https://answers.knewton.com/entries/2004 ... -americans

In short this what they say

'It is absolutely correct that clauses, by definition, have a subject and a verb. This construction ("while" + participle) is one of the weirder quirks of English grammar.

"While" does indeed introduce a subordinate clause, but "while" + a participle (here: "while...falling") is a valid construction.

It's not preferable, but it is grammatically correct.
Idiom "doing X while at the same time doing Y." (Correct)

1. Riding his bike while at the same time listening to headphones, John wasn't paying attention to the road
2. While walking, I noticed a quarter

Many of the subordinating conjunctions CAN introduce participial phrases. The one exception is "because". ------> "Because" must always introduce a clause.

"While walking, I noticed a quarter." (correct)

The take-away is: When you see a subordinating conjunction (other than "because") + participial phrase, don't eliminate the answer choice based on this alone. Instead, look for a better construction (especially with "although"). Subordinating conjunctions should begin clauses, but they can sometimes begin participial phrases.'