While John Webster is credited with having popularized the particular

Question

While John Webster is credited with having popularized the particular sub-genre of English theater known as the Elizabethan Revenge Tragedy, often characterized by the protagonist avenging the murder of a family member, his more acclaimed contemporary William Shakespeare, who wrote Hamlet, perhaps the most famous Revenge Tragedy in English literature, probably inspired Webster’s works. Since Shakespeare himself based many of his works on the structure and style of plays by the Greek playwright Seneca, Seneca should be credited as the creator of the Revenge Tragedy.

In assessing the above argument, which of the following would it be most useful to determine?

A. Whether any of Webster’s works were published before Shakespeare’s works
B. Whether Webster was actually aware of Seneca’s work
C. Whether Shakespeare’s Revenge Tragedies have any structural and stylistic similarities with Seneca’s plays
D. Whether Shakespeare wrote at least as many Revenge Tragedies as did Webster
E. Whether Seneca's Revenge Tragedies were more popular than Shakespeare's Revenge Tragedies

MartyTargetTestPrep · Accepted Answer

(A) is a possible correct answer.

In this question, the passage has two conclusions, and there are multiple possible correct answers.

It's a complete mess.

$!vakumar.m · Answer

Conclusion - Since Shakespeare himself based many of his works on the structure and style of plays by the Greek playwright Seneca,  Seneca should be credited as the creator of the Revenge Tragedy.

In assessing the above argument, which of the following would it be most useful to determine?
To evaluate the argument we use Variance test. The correct answer choice must be relevant to the argument and give extreme cases/opposite answers.

A. Whether any of Webster’s works were published before Shakespeare’s works - not relevant to the conclusion. 
B. Whether Webster was actually aware of Seneca’s work - irrelevant.
C. Whether Shakespeare’s Revenge Tragedies have any structural and stylistic similarities with Seneca’s plays - relevant. If yes then Seneca should be credited (conclusion is strengthened) and if No then the conclusion is weakened. Option C seems correct - hold.
D. Whether Shakespeare wrote at least as many Revenge Tragedies as did Webster- doesn't matter - drop.
E. Whether Seneca's Revenge Tragedies were more popular than Shakespeare's Revenge Tragedies - popularity doesn't matter - drop.

Answer C

SatvikVedala · Answer

Hey  Bunuel

As per the argument, Webster's works were probably inspired from Shakespeare's.

Considering Option B if Webster was actually aware of Seneca’s work then This may contradict the plausibility that Webster's works were probably inspired from Shakespeare's.

As the Question stem asks for "would it be most useful". why can't we consider Option B

Also Option C is already a restatement of the sentence "Since Shakespeare himself based many of his works on the structure and style of plays by the Greek playwright Seneca". How could this possibly be a better answer than B

Please Explain

Thank You

SreyaSanghai · Answer

Why cannot the answer be part a? If Webster's works were published before Shakespeare then he couldn't have been inspired by him. Please explain

Deep32470 · Answer

A. Whether any of Webster’s works were published before Shakespeare’s works- This Seems to be most apt one as this would decide whether or not Webster's work are influenced by Shakespeare or not.

B. Whether Webster was actually aware of Seneca’s work
C. Whether Shakespeare’s Revenge Tragedies have any structural and stylistic similarities with Seneca’s plays- However, this was shown as correct one, I have an objection as how can similarities in structural and style of a play can decide whether or not the play is inspired by someone. It might be a coincidence if the play has similarity and suppose if the play was inspired then it might be that the artist may take inspiration from the play but can change the structure and style accordingly.
D. Whether Shakespeare wrote at least as many Revenge Tragedies as did Webster
E. Whether Seneca's Revenge Tragedies were more popular than Shakespeare's Revenge Tragedies

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VikhyatVerma · Answer

There can't be any other answer apart from C.

Start by focusing on the conclusion (and yes there can be only one main conclusion) - 'Seneca should be credited as the creator of the genre'.

Now, even if Option A happens to be true and Webster's novels were infact published before those of Shakespeare's, how does it still effect the the above stated conclusion that Seneca should be credited?

For all we know Seneca still might be credited with the same.

However, if Option C were to hold true or even false (since this is an evaluate question type), we get a further glimpse into the core of the argument, which in turn lets us know if conclusion would hold true or not.

Option C is also not the best answer choice, but it is way better than A in explaining or helping us evaluate.

abhisekagrawal · Answer

The argument suggests that Seneca should be credited as the creator of the Revenge Tragedy because Shakespeare, who influenced Webster, was himself influenced by Seneca. To evaluate this argument, it would be most useful to determine whether Shakespeare's Revenge Tragedies have structural and stylistic similarities with Seneca's plays (option C). This would help establish the extent of Seneca's influence on Shakespeare and, by extension, on Webster's works.

Correct answer: C. Whether Shakespeare’s Revenge Tragedies have any structural and stylistic similarities with Seneca’s plays

Correct answer: C. Whether Shakespeare’s Revenge Tragedies have any structural and stylistic similarities with Seneca’s plays

While John Webster is credited with having popularized the particular

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While John Webster is credited with having popularized the particular

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