Who wrote Shakespeare's plays?
Read Who wrote Shakespeare's plays? and check the IELTS Reading answers. Even today, almost 400 years after his death, the works of the famous English dramatist William Shakespeare have lost none of their appeal, nor have questions about the source of his genius. For is it really credible that an o…
Passage preview
Even today, almost 400 years after his death, the works of the famous English dramatist William Shakespeare have lost none of their appeal, nor have questions about the source of his genius. For is it really credible that an ordinary actor from the small town of Stratford-upon-Avon should metamorphose into so extraordinary a dramatist? For some, the answer is Obvious: Shakespeare was a genius whose gift is no more suspicious than that of the physicist Albert Einstein, the German salesman's son who devised the theory of relativity. But others have insisted that a mere school leaver simply could not have penned such sophisticated works. They believe that Shakespeare was a pseudonym for someone with far more impressive qualifications who wrote the plays that still play to packed theatres today. But after long and largely fruitless debate, researchers are now turning to scientific methods to resolve the controversies surrounding Shakespeare. Ways of identifying the literary fingerprint of writers are currently being developed using computers. This analysis of features of literary style is known as 'stylometry' and with it researchers can recognise the work of Shakespeare and his contemporaries with impressive reliability.
Vocabulary from this passage
10 words worth learning before you sit the test, each with the sentence it appears in.
- conceivable adjective
Capable of being imagined or grasped mentally; possible to believe
The computational power required for modern stylometry was not even conceivable a century ago.
- contender noun
A person or entity that is competing for something or is a potential candidate
Sir Francis Bacon has long been considered a primary contender for the authorship of the plays.
- enduring brilliance noun
Exceptional talent or intelligence that lasts for a very long time without fading
Shakespeare's works are celebrated for their enduring brilliance, remaining popular centuries after his death.
- highly compromised adjective
In a state where quality, reliability, or integrity has been significantly weakened or damaged
If the original manuscripts have been heavily edited, the resulting data becomes highly compromised.
- metamorphose verb
To change or cause to change completely in form, nature, or character
Skeptics doubt an ordinary actor could metamorphose into a world-renowned and sophisticated dramatist.
- pinpoint verb
To find or locate exactly; to identify with great precision
Advanced algorithms can pinpoint unique linguistic patterns that distinguish one writer from another.
- probe verb
To physically explore or examine something with a tool, or to investigate a matter deeply
Modern scientists use computational tools to probe the long-standing controversies surrounding the plays' authorship.
- provisionally adverb
Subject to further confirmation; for the time being but not yet final
Studies suggest provisionally that some segments of the text were likely written by Marlowe.
- pseudonym noun
A fictitious name, especially one used by an author to conceal their true identity
Some researchers argue that the name Shakespeare was merely a pseudonym for a different writer.
- stylometry noun
The statistical study of variations in literary style between different authors or works
Stylometry allows experts to analyze word frequency and identify the literary fingerprint of an author.
Answers with explanations
- 14. C
The question looks for a paragraph discussing the unclear reasons behind an author hiding their identity. Paragraph C directly addresses this by stating Francis Bacon's **motivation** for **not wanting to be known as the author** is **far from clear** (uncertain).
- 15. A
The prompt seeks a mention of the enduring fame of the plays. Paragraph A provides exactly this, noting that almost 400 years later, his works **have lost none of their appeal**, which is a clear reference to **continuing popularity**.
- 16. C
The question asks for flaws in a specific researcher's method. Paragraph C details Thomas Mendenhall's approach and explicitly lists **key concerns** (reasons it was unsatisfactory), such as **lumping all works together** and his **questionable focus on word length** as the sole fingerprint.
- 17. B
We need the origin date of the scientific technique. Paragraph B states that the **idea of using these basic scientific techniques** (stylometry) to probe authorship **dates back to 1851**. This matches the requirement for the time it was first proposed.
- 18. G
The prompt is looking for evidence that his abilities improved over time. Paragraph G mentions the view of Shakespeare as a professional who **perfected his skills throughout his career**, directly supporting the idea that he became **more skilful as he grew older**.
- 19. A
The question requires a comparison to a talented scientist. Paragraph A directly compares Shakespeare's **genius** to the gift of the **physicist Albert Einstein** (a scientist with exceptional ability), drawing a direct **similarity** between their extraordinary talents.
- 20. collaboration
The summary discusses his relationships with other writers and whether he worked alone or with them. The passage explicitly poses the question of whether he was a lone genius or if his work was the result of **collaboration**. The noun perfectly fits the blank.
- 21. computers
The summary explains what invention enables current stylometric analysis. Paragraph D states that the **text-crunching power of computers** allows researchers to perform this exact analysis (pinpointing frequencies of letters/words). A plural noun is grammatically required here.
- 22. fingerprint
The blank requires a singular noun denoting what is developed using pattern recognition. The text explicitly says that these techniques are used to develop a **'fingerprint'** for each author.
- 23. C
The statement describes the belief that an average person couldn't be the author. **Professor Kate Mcluskie** explicitly states that these claims are driven by the feeling that Shakespeare's work is too important to have been written by an **ordinary person** (normal individual).
- 24. A
The statement connects authorship recognition to word length. The passage identifies **Thomas Mendenhall** as the researcher who decided to use **word length** (the number of letters in words) to investigate the authorship controversy.
- 25. E
The statement expresses caution about altered texts compromising data. **Dr Markus Dahl** warns that if the centuries-old texts have been **edited, amended or shortened** (altered), the stylometric data is **highly compromised** (raising doubts).
- 26. B
The statement says analysis showed Shakespeare's style is unique among claimants. The passage states that **Elliott and Valenza** applied tests and found that **none of the claimants** had a stylometric fingerprint **similar to that of Shakespeare**, confirming the difference in style.