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
(B) lay in the fact of his integrating these
(C) laid in the fact of his integrating these
(D) lay in his integration of these
(E) laid in his integration of these
Explanation:The original underlined phrase correctly uses the past tense ('lay') of the verb 'lie' in the second independent clause.
However, the use of 'in the fact that' sounds unnecessary and wordy. There can be alternative ways of saying or conveying the same idea i.e. 'Shakespeare's originality lay in the integration of personifications'. The originality was in the integration of personification into the internal psyche of the protagonist.
Based on this, we can straightforwardly discard options C and E as 'laid' is used here instead of 'lay'.
(A) lay in the fact that he integrated these:
As discussed above, wordy and unnecessary use of 'in the fact that'. WRONG(B) lay in the fact of his integrating these:
Awkward use of 'in the fact of his integrating'. The intended meaning is to show that the originality was in the manner in which shakespeare integrated the personifications. WRONG(C) laid in the fact of his integrating these:
As discussed above, incorrect use of 'laid' instead of 'lay'. WRONG(D) lay in his integration of these:
Sounds the best logical choice as it correctly uses the verb tense 'lay' and conveys the intended meaning coherently and concisely. CORRECT(E) laid in his integration of these:
As discussed above, incorrect use of 'laid' instead of 'lay'. WRONG