Question

How does Ben Jonson's quote “‘He was not of an age, but for all time!’” from paragraph 2 contribute to the development of ideas in the text?
A. It emphasizes the lasting popularity of Shakespeare's plays
B. It shows that Shakespeare was best understood in his time
C. It proves that Shakespeare's plays only improve over time
D. It stresses how Shakespeare was not appreciated in his time

Answer 1

Answer: C. It proves that Shakespeare's plays only improve over time.

Explanation:

In the Preface to the First Folio, collection of Shakespeare's plays from 1623, Shakespeare's contemporary Ben Johnson writes that Shakespeare "was not of an age, but for all time." Today, four centuries after Shakespeare's death, many people still agree with what Johnson has to say. Shakespeare created plots and characters which are timeless. His work is still interesting for the scholars who analyze it and approach it from new perspectives.