Shakespeare’s Hamlet was based on a style of morality plays, wherein personifications of vice and virtue fight over a man’s soul; Shakespeare’s originality lay in the fact that he integrated these personifications into the internal psyche of the protagonist.
(A) lay in the fact that he integrated these
incorrect - Shakespeare's originality didn't lay in the fact but Shakespeare's originality lay in his integration of these personifications.
(B) lay in the fact of his integrating these
incorrect - Similar reasons as in A. In addition, this option is unnecessarily wordy. The phrase "the fact of his integrating these" could be more succinctly expressed as "that he integrated these" without changing the meaning.
(C) laid in the fact of his integrating these
Incorrect - This option has a tense issue. The past tense "laid" does not match the present tense "Shakespeare's originality." Additionally, it suffers from the same wordiness as option (B).
(D) lay in his integration of these
Correct - The present tense "lay" matches the present tense "Shakespeare's originality. It correctly conveys the intended meaning that Shakespeare's originality lay in his integration of these personifications.
(E) laid in his integration of these
The past tense "laid" does not match the present tense "Shakespeare's originality."
Answer D
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