Since the publication of Samuel Johnson's 'Preface to Shakespeare' (1765), which of the Unities have been regarded as optional devices, available to playwrights in England to achieve special effects of dramatic concentration?

1. AUnities of Time and Action
2. BUnities of Place and Action
3. CUnities of Place and Time
4. DUnity of Place only

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Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: C. Unities of Place and Time

Explanation

Johnson defended Shakespeare's disregard of the unities of time and place, arguing that spectators always know they are in a theatre, so a change of scene or a lapse of years is no harder to accept than the first scene. He kept the unity of action as essential to coherence. After him, time and place were treated as optional.