This collection begins with a poem not by the credited author but by his rival Ben Jonson, commenting on an engraving
The Final Jeopardy clue for Thursday, July 9, 2026, appeared in the category “Alliterative Literature” and read: “This collection begins with a poem not by the credited author but by his rival Ben Jonson, commenting on an engraving.” The clue points to one of the most important books in English literary history, a collected volume that preserved many of William Shakespeare’s plays and opened with Jonson’s remarks on the famous engraved portrait of Shakespeare.
Contents
What Is the First Folio?
The correct response is the First Folio. Officially published in 1623 as Mr. William Shakespeare’s Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies, the First Folio was the first major collected edition of Shakespeare’s plays.
The clue’s category, “Alliterative Literature,” helps point to the answer because “First Folio” is an alliterative phrase. The reference to Ben Jonson confirms it. Jonson’s poem “To the Reader” appears at the front of the volume and comments on the engraved portrait of Shakespeare.
Ben Jonson’s Poem and the Engraving
The engraving in question is the famous Martin Droeshout portrait of Shakespeare. It appears in the opening pages of the First Folio and became one of the most recognizable images associated with the playwright.
Ben Jonson’s short poem addresses the reader and comments on the portrait. Rather than praising the engraving as a perfect likeness, Jonson advises readers to look beyond the image and toward Shakespeare’s writing. That connection between the poem and the engraving is the key to the clue.
Why Ben Jonson Matters
Ben Jonson was a major playwright and poet in his own right. He was Shakespeare’s contemporary and, at times, a rival figure in the world of English drama. His presence at the beginning of the First Folio gives the volume added literary weight.
Jonson also contributed a longer tribute to Shakespeare in the same collection, famously calling him “not of an age, but for all time.” His role in the front matter helped frame Shakespeare’s reputation for later generations.
The Importance of the First Folio
The First Folio is central to Shakespeare studies because it preserved 36 plays, including several that might otherwise have been lost. Works such as Macbeth, Julius Caesar, The Tempest, Twelfth Night, and As You Like It were included in the volume.
The book was assembled after Shakespeare’s death by his fellow actors and colleagues John Heminges and Henry Condell. Their work helped turn Shakespeare from a successful playwright of his era into the central figure of English literary tradition.
Why This Final Jeopardy Clue Works
This clue works because it combines literary history, book history, and wordplay. The alliteration points toward “First Folio,” while the details about Ben Jonson and the engraving identify the specific collection.
The correct response, the First Folio, fits every part of the clue. It is an alliterative literary title, it is a collection credited to Shakespeare, and it begins with Jonson’s poem commenting on the engraved portrait that introduced readers to the author’s image.
