In The 1850s, Several Literary Critics Began to Propose that the Plays Generally Ascribed to Shakespeare had, in Fact, been Written by Sir Francis Bacon

Reading Passage Question

In the 1850s, several literary critics began to propose that the plays generally ascribed to Shakespeare had, in fact, been written by Sir Francis Bacon and that Shakespeare had made no real contribution to the composition of the plays he later became renowned for. Modern scholarship, however, tends to dismiss any role that Bacon may have played in inspiring and informing Shakespeare, considering the notion that Bacon penned the plays himself the babble of misguided zealots and, further, blasphemy.

This controversial thesis has recently gained new ground, though, with the publication of Gail Gross’s fascinating new book, The Magus and the Bard. The crux of Gross’s argument concerns the fact that there is a distinct alchemical thought recurrent in Shakespeare’s writing and that, even though the Hermetic practices central to alchemy may have been known to Shakespeare, Bacon was undeniably well versed in them and had written extensively on the subject in numerous essays whose phrasings are remarkably similar to those found in plays such as Romeo and Juliet.

In fact, as Gross lays out her case for Bacon’s authorship, she devotes a large portion of it to an intricate analysis of this most popular work of the Shakespearean canon. Gross contends that the union of Romeo and Juliet, two star-crossed lovers from feuding families, is symbolic of the alchemical formula for what is known as the prima materia, a union of opposites with transformational potential. In alchemy, this process is achieved through the use of the “universal solvent” mercury. In the play, the lovers’ tragic end comes about after Romeo’s friend Mercutio is slain. Alchemically, mercury is considered both male and female in its character, while the character of Mercutio is often portrayed as androgynous. The end result of the alchemical formula is that most pure of all elements, gold, and in the epilogue of Romeo and Juliet, Gross notes, the formerly feuding families decide to erect a memorial to the lovers “in pure gold.”

What Gross’s argument lacks in persuasiveness, it makes up for in minutiae. An entire chapter explores the possible meaning of Juliet’s age (14 years) in alchemical terms and the significance of her birthday’s coincidence with the feast of Lammas. Another chapter discusses the relationship of the name Romeo to Sirius, the “dog star.”

Unfortunately, in the final analysis, instead of cogently making her case for Bacon’s having been responsible for the alchemical imagery in Shakespeare’s plays and thus having been the actual author of them, Gross spends the last chapters of the book railing against what she calls “Shakespeare apologists,” stating that they have developed such admiration for their own imaginings of who Shakespeare was that they have lost sight of the man himself and are unable to realise that Shakespeare was not sufficiently educated to have included such profound and esoteric ideas in his plays. Apparently, only Sir Francis Bacon could have done so.

“In the 1850s, several literary critics began to propose that the plays generally ascribed to Shakespeare had, in fact, been written by Sir Francis Bacon”- is a GMAT reading comprehension passage with answers. Candidates need a strong knowledge of English GMAT reading comprehension.

This GMAT Reading Comprehension consists of 7 comprehension questions. The GMAT Reading Comprehension questions are designed for testing candidates’ abilities in understanding, analyzing, and applying information or concepts. Candidates can actively prepare with the help of GMAT Reading Comprehension Practice Questions.

Solution and Explanation

1. How would those described as “Shakespeare apologists” be most likely to explain the theories concerning Bacon that were popular in the mid-nineteenth century?

1. Those who believed Bacon wrote all of Shakespeare’s plays were misguided, the victims of a delusion brought about by a too intensive focus on Bacon’s alchemical works.
2. Those who believed Bacon wrote all of Shakespeare’s plays did not recognize how much of a genius Shakespeare truly was.
3. Those who believed Bacon wrote all of Shakespeare’s plays had come to the realisation that Bacon was the only man intelligent enough to have written plays with such deep meaning.
4. Those who believed Bacon wrote all of Shakespeare’s plays have undermined the stability of Shakespearean scholarship and caused many rifts between those who study Shakespeare’s plays.
5. Those who believed Bacon wrote all of Shakespeare’s plays have since apologised to the more devoted scholars and devotees of Shakespeare.

2. The author’s main purpose in writing this passage is to

1. examine the merits of both sides of a current debate in literature.
2. review the argument of a new book on the works of Shakespeare.
3. analyse the position of those referred to as “Shakespeare apologists.”
4. lend support to a controversial view of Shakespearean authorship.
5. promotes further study of Bacon’s alchemical works.

3. It can be inferred that the author of The Magus and the Bard would agree with which of the following statements about Romeo and Juliet?

1. Most of the phrasings in Romeo and Juliet are identical to those found in the writings of Bacon.
2. Though Romeo and Juliet were in opposition to each other, they were both actually very similar in character.
3. The end of the feud between the families of Romeo and Juliet is symbolic of the transformational power of the prima materia.
4. The character of Mercutio should be portrayed as strong and manly in accord with the alchemical symbolism of the play.
5. The theme of Romeo and Juliet reflects alchemical thinking, but the details of the play merely serve the story line and have little meaning.

4. The author points to all of the following as possible instances of alchemical symbolism in Romeo and Juliet EXCEPT:

1. portrayals of Mercutio’s sexuality
2. the statue erected in Romeo and Juliet’s honour
3. Romeo’s name
4. the characters’ use of mercury
5. Romeo and Juliet’s feuding families

5. It can be determined from the passage that certain scholars in the nineteenth century believed that

1. Shakespeare was not the author of the plays credited to him.
2. Bacon had been falsely accused of plagiarism.
3. Shakespeare had needed the help of other writers when composing his plays.
4. Bacon had provided the thematic and symbolic core of Shakespeare’s works.
5. Shakespeare had no direct ties to Bacon.

6. The second paragraph implies that during Shakespeare's time

1. only the wealthiest and most educated knew about alchemy.
2. the subject of alchemy was better suited to the medium of essays than to that of the theatre.
3. one didn’t have to be an expert in alchemy to be aware of its conventions.
4. Someone of Shakespeare's standing would have been incapable of using alchemical allusions in a play.
5. many playwrights based their works on the ideas put forward in scholarly essays.

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