Investigating Shakespeare's 'The Tempest': Statement Accuracy

This solution examines the truthfulness of three statements concerning William Shakespeare's play, 'The Tempest'. We will analyze each statement individually to determine its accuracy.

Analysis of Statement (i): Date of Writing

Statement (i) claims: "The Tempest' was written in 1500."

Verdict: False.

Scholarly consensus places the writing of 'The Tempest' much later, likely around 1610 or 1611. While Shakespeare's career began much earlier, this specific play belongs to the later period of his writing.

Analysis of Statement (ii): A Late Play

Statement (ii) claims: "It is considered to be one of the last plays of William Shakespeare."

Verdict: True.

'The Tempest' is widely recognized by literary critics and scholars as one of the final plays Shakespeare penned independently. It is often grouped with other late works like 'The Winter's Tale' and 'Cymbeline', known as his "romances".

Analysis of Statement (iii): Inspiration from Shipwrecks

Statement (iii) claims: "It is believed that the play 'The Tempest' was based on an actual wreck of a ship."

Verdict: True.

There is strong historical and literary evidence suggesting that the plot of 'The Tempest' was inspired by real-life events. Specifically, the dramatic shipwreck of the English vessel Sea Venture off the coast of Bermuda in 1609, and the subsequent accounts published by survivors like William Strachey, are considered major influences on Shakespeare's creation of the play's opening storm and island setting.

Conclusion on Accuracy

Based on the analysis:

• Statement (i) is incorrect.
• Statement (ii) is correct.
• Statement (iii) is correct.

Identifying the Correct Option Combination

Since statements (ii) and (iii) are true, and statement (i) is false, the correct option must include only (ii) and (iii).