Literary scholars examining Renaissance drama distinguish between playwrights who pioneered innovative techniques and those who worked within establis...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Literary scholars examining Renaissance drama distinguish between playwrights who pioneered innovative techniques and those who worked within established conventions. Christopher Marlowe, for example, revolutionized dramatic structure with works like 'Doctor Faustus,' introducing psychological complexity and blank verse innovations that transformed theatrical storytelling. In contrast, dramatists like Thomas Kyd, while producing highly successful works such as 'The Spanish Tragedy,' primarily refined and perfected existing dramatic formulas, working within established revenge tragedy conventions that had already proven popular with contemporary audiences.
According to the text, what is a difference between how literary scholars view Christopher Marlowe and how they view Thomas Kyd?
Literary scholars believe that established conventions provide more evidence for Christopher Marlowe's success than they do for Thomas Kyd's success.
Literary scholars agree that Thomas Kyd wrote much earlier than Christopher Marlowe.
Literary scholars agree that Christopher Marlowe pioneered innovative techniques, but agree that Thomas Kyd worked within established conventions.
Literary scholars find the dramatic formulas created by Thomas Kyd to be more transformative than those created by Christopher Marlowe.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| Literary scholars examining Renaissance drama distinguish between playwrights who pioneered innovative techniques and those who worked within established conventions. |
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| Christopher Marlowe, for example, revolutionized dramatic structure with works like 'Doctor Faustus,' introducing psychological complexity and blank verse innovations that transformed theatrical storytelling. |
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| In contrast, dramatists like Thomas Kyd, while producing highly successful works such as 'The Spanish Tragedy,' primarily refined and perfected existing dramatic formulas, working within established revenge tragedy conventions that had already proven popular with contemporary audiences. |
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Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Literary scholars categorize Renaissance dramatists into two distinct groups: innovative pioneers like Marlowe who transformed theatrical techniques, and conventional craftsmen like Kyd who perfected existing dramatic formulas.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes a scholarly distinction between two types of Renaissance playwrights, then illustrates this division with concrete examples—Marlowe representing the innovative approach with his revolutionary dramatic techniques, and Kyd representing the conventional approach with his successful refinement of established forms.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
This is a fill-in-the-blank question asking us to choose the best logical connector. The answer must create the right relationship between what comes before and after the blank.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- From our passage analysis, we know that literary scholars see these two playwrights very differently
- Marlowe is viewed as someone who revolutionized and transformed theater with innovative techniques
- Kyd is seen as someone who refined and perfected existing dramatic formulas and worked within established conventions
- The key elements the correct answer must have:
- It should show Marlowe as the innovator/pioneer
- It should show Kyd as the conventional/traditional craftsman
- It should capture this as a scholarly distinction, not a value judgment about quality
Literary scholars believe that established conventions provide more evidence for Christopher Marlowe's success than they do for Thomas Kyd's success.
✗ Incorrect
- This choice focuses on evidence for success, but the passage doesn't compare evidence or success levels
- The passage says both playwrights were successful—it distinguishes their approaches, not their success
Literary scholars agree that Thomas Kyd wrote much earlier than Christopher Marlowe.
✗ Incorrect
- This choice claims scholars agree about timing (who wrote earlier)
- The passage never mentions when either playwright wrote or any temporal relationship
Literary scholars agree that Christopher Marlowe pioneered innovative techniques, but agree that Thomas Kyd worked within established conventions.
✓ Correct
- This perfectly captures the scholarly distinction outlined in the passage
- Matches our passage analysis: Marlowe revolutionized and introduced innovations (pioneered techniques) while Kyd worked within established revenge tragedy conventions
Literary scholars find the dramatic formulas created by Thomas Kyd to be more transformative than those created by Christopher Marlowe.
✗ Incorrect
- This reverses the passage's message by calling Kyd's formulas more transformative
- The passage specifically says Marlowe's innovations transformed theatrical storytelling while Kyd worked within existing formulas