Hypnerotomachia Poliphili is a romance published in 1499 that, though the author was originally anonymous, has been attributed to Francesco Colonna. Some academics, however, doubt that Colonna is the author because, as a Dominican monk, he would not have the skill or experience to produce such a work. One academic has recently made the assertion that the attribution is correct, citing as evidence Colonna’s proximity to the text’s publisher, Aldus Manutius, and the wealth of other complex Renaissance works of literature confirmed to be written and compiled by talented members of the clergy. In light of this argument, it is clear that it is indeed possible that a member of a monastic order may have produced such a text.
Which of the following, if true, would most support the academic’s recent hypothesis concerning the authorship of Hypnerotomachia Poliphili?The academic argues that Colonna could have written the text and that the attribution to him is correct.
The strongest support would be evidence directly linking Colonna to the text itself, not merely evidence that monks were capable of writing complex works.
A. The only indication that Colonna had anything to do with Hypnerotomachia Poliphili is his proximity to its publisher.
This weakens the hypothesis. It says the evidence for Colonna is very limited.
B. Modern translators of the text have seen fit to attribute its composition to Colonna.
This helps somewhat, but it is weak. It shows that some modern scholars accept the attribution, but it does not give direct evidence that Colonna wrote the text.
C. Much of the writing in Renaissance Europe was published anonymously.
This explains why the text might have been anonymous, but it does not specifically connect Colonna to the work.
D. An acrostic produced by reading the first letter of each chapter in Hypnerotomachia Poliphili forms Colonna’s name.
This is correct. If the text itself contains a hidden pattern spelling Colonna’s name, that is
direct internal evidence supporting the claim that Colonna was the author.
E. Hypnerotomachia Poliphili contains few if any references to the monastic life that Colonna would have been familiar with.
This weakens or at least does not help. If the text lacks material connected to Colonna’s life, it gives no support for his authorship.
Answer: (D)