It has been commonly accepted for some time now that certain scenes in

Question

It has been commonly accepted for some time now that certain scenes in Shakespeare’s Macbeth are interpolations from the writing of another author  Act III, scene 5, and parts of Act IV, scene 1, have been determined to be the writing of one of his contemporaries, Thomas Middleton.  This can be regarded as both illuminating and problematic, depending upon how the play is being studied. It allows us to infer a great deal about the conventions and practices of writing for the stage at the time. For example, it may have been more collaborative than previously thought, or perhaps Elizabethan notions of plagiarism were different from ours. While historically significant, this does complicate our interpretation of the characters in the play.  It is more difficult to assess authorial intention with regard to a character’s motives if the text has been redacted by multiple authors.     1 
 1. Select the statement or statements that are correct according to the passage.

I. The author feels that Shakespeare is guilty of plagiarism.
II. The interpolations found in plays such as Macbeth makes it more difficult to assess the author’s motives in writing the play.
III. Our current understanding of plagiarism may have arisen after Shakespeare’s time.

A. I Only
B. II Only
C. III Only
D. I and II Only
E. II and III Only

2 
 2. Which of the following could aid in the further study of the interpolations discussed in the above passage?

I. an investigation of thematic and technical irregularities in other plays by Shakespeare
II. an examination of the themes and techniques of other writers contemporary with Shakespeare
III. a search through legal documents of Shakespeare’s time for references to plagiarism or intellectual property rights

A. I Only
B. III Only
C. I and III Only
D. II and III Only
E. I, II, and III

3 
 3. Which CANNOT be inferred from the passage?

I. The example of interpolation discussed in the passage would be illegal today.
II. Authors and playwrights in Shakespeare’s time might have recruited assistance when composing their works.
III. Shakespeare used Middleton’s writing without his consent.

A. I Only
B. III Only
C. I and III Only
D. II and III Only
E. I, II, and III

4 
 4. Which of the following best describes the relationship between the highlighted phrases?

A concept and example
B cause and effect
C thesis and defense
D thesis and synthesis
E synthesis and antithesis

Kaplan GRE Premier 2014

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

3. Which CANNOT be inferred from the passage?

Explanation

This is an exclusion question, so you must select the answers you cannot infer from the passage.

I , that this example of interpolation would be illegal today, is impossible to tell, and this is specified by the author’s questioning of the difference in notions of plagiarism between now and then; furthermore, it is not specified whether or not Middleton was consciously assisting the composition.

II  is suggested within the passage in the supposition that writing such as Macbeth might have, in fact, been collaborative—this allows you to eliminate  choice (B) .

III  you know to be also a correct response for the same reason you specified for  I —you do not know precisely Middleton’s role in the composition. Answer  choices I  and  III  are both right.

Answer: C

parthwagh · Answer

This passage discusses the discovery of interpolations (non-Shakespearean sections) in Macbeth, highlighting historical context and potential impacts. It notes the historical significance but argues it complicates character analysis due to mixed authorship.

Author's Tone
The tone of the author is balanced. They present information objectively, discussing both positive (historical insight) and negative (interpretation difficulty) aspects of the discovery. While the mention of "plagiarism" might seem negative, it's more an objective reference than expressing judgment on Shakespeare's intentions or character.

Answer Explanations
1. C) III Only

Correct:

III) Current understanding of plagiarism: The passage explicitly states Elizabethan notions might have differed, supporting this statement.
Incorrect:

I) Shakespeare guilty of plagiarism: The author discusses different interpretations but doesn't label him "guilty."
II) Author's motives: This is mentioned as a problem caused by the interpolations, aligning with statement II.

2. E) I, II, and III

All three options could potentially help:

I) Thematic irregularities within Shakespeare: Comparing other works might reveal similar patterns, indicating potential collaborations or styles influencing both authors.
II) Themes and techniques of contemporaries: Comparing styles of contemporaries like Middleton may highlight similarities or differences, supporting or refuting interpolation claims.
III) Legal documents: Although no guarantee, legal documents could shed light on plagiarism norms or collaborations during that era.

parthwagh · Answer

3. C) I and III Only

Incorrect:

I) Illegal today: The passage only mentions differing standards, not making definitive claims about today's laws.
III) Shakespeare without consent: The passage doesn't provide evidence about consent; it identifies Middleton's authorship but not specific details of the arrangement.
Correct:

II) Assistance when composing: The passage directly suggests collaborative practices in Shakespeare's time, supporting this statement.

sreeja30 · Answer

1. Select the statement or statements that are correct according to the passage.

I. The author feels that Shakespeare is guilty of plagiarism -  False . The passage did not mention him as guilty.

II. The interpolations found in plays such as Macbeth makes it more difficult to assess the author’s motives in writing the play.-  TRUE 
The passage explicitly says: It is more difficult to assess authorial intention... if the text has been redacted by multiple authors.

III. Our current understanding of plagiarism may have arisen after Shakespeare’s time.-  TRUE . Elizabethan notions of plagiarism were different from ours.

So I think correct answer should be  E) II & III only

BhardwajS · Answer

sreeja30  Why statement second is wrong? the last line which you are referring to "  The passage explicitly says: It is more difficult to assess authorial intention with regard to  character's motives  if the text has been redacted by multiple authors" -this line talks about character's motive - e.g. why does lady Macbeth go mad? 
 and statement second claims about " Author's motives in writing the play " means Why did Shakespeare decide to write this play -two are completely different things. 
 The Correct Answer
 C. III Only 
Only Statement III is supported by the passage. Statement II makes an unsupported logical jump. 
 Hope this helps!:)

It has been commonly accepted for some time now that certain scenes in

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