Doctor Faustus

The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus (ca. 1592-93)

Norton Overview
Alternate Scene 9 and ending(s)

Things to Consider:

Historical Context: Humanism and the Renaissance

cf. Luther, Galileo, Machaivelli, Francis Bacon

Ambition and Overreaching
Forbidden Knowledge
"Good" and "Bad" Angels: What is their role?
Does Faustus get all that he desires?
Does he get all that he deserves?

Characteristics of the Morality Play:

the chorus/narrator
pageant of the Seven Deadly Sins
Temptation, Salvation, Damnation
the entertaining, comical Vice (or devil)
concern with ultimate spiritual issues
crude, farcical humor grafted on to solemn story

Terms to Know:

soliloquy
dramatic irony
exposition

Discussion Questions (See Part Two

):
Prologue:
501:

How does the Chorus function here? Explain the opening speech.

Scene One:
503:

Why does Faustus reject Divinity in favor of Necromancy (1.47-50)?

505:

What is the Delphian oracle (1.143)?

Scene Three:
509:

Explain the offer Faustus makes to Lucifer. (See also 514).

Scene Five:
512:

Explain lines 5.7-14.
Why does Lucifer want Faustus's soul?

513:

What does "Consummatum est" mean (5.74)? Why is this quote significant?

514:

Where is Hell?

515:

Why can't Mephastophilis procure a wife for Faustus?

517:

Why is calling on Christ contrary to his promise to Lucifer?

Other Discussion Questions:
502:

Who is Icarus?
Why does Faustus reject Logic/Philosophy (1.8-10)?

503:

Why does he reject Medicine/Physics (1.18-27)?
Why does he reject Law (1.34-36)?

505:

Explain lines 1.121-23. What historical phenomenon is referred to?

506-7:

How does Wagner "triumph" over the other two students?

507:

What is the significance of lines 3.8-10?

509:

Why does Faustus call men's souls "vain trifles" (3.62)?
Explain lines 3.77-81.

510:

Why does Wagner hire the clown?

511:

How is Wagner able to conjure devils?

513:

Why does Faustus's blood congeal (5.62)?
What does "Homo, fuge!" mean (5.77)?

514:

Why does Faustus not care about giving his soul to Lucifer?

515:

Why does Faustus want to repent?
Why "can't" he?

518:

Why do the Seven Deadly Sins appear?

519:

Why does the sight of the Seven Deadly Sins feed Faustus's soul?

Part Two
Discussion Questions:
Scene Seven:
520-21:

What does Faustus do once he procures the power he seeks?

522:

How does the Cardinal of Lorraine explain the pranks Faustus performs?
Could this explanation be considered ironic? Explain.

Scene Eight:
523:

What is the purpose of this scene? How does it relate to Scene Six?

526:

Who is Actaeon? Explain Faustus's comments about him (9.53-54).

Scene Twelve:
531:

Does Faustus really repent? If so, shouldn't he be saved? Explain.
Explain: "Was this the face that launched a thousand ships,/And burnt the topless towers of Ilium?" (12.81-82).
Why does Faustus want to kiss Helen? What does this desire reveal about him?

Scene Thirteen:
532:

Why can't Faustus be saved?

535:

What moral/lesson does the Chorus impart at the end?

Other Discussion Questions:
Scene Six:
519-20:

What is the purpose of this scene?
What do horns signify (6.14-16)?

520:

Explain Chorus Two.

521:

Why do Faustus and Mephastophilis go to visit the Pope?

522:

What do the bell, book, and candle signify (7.81)?

523:

How can Robin summon Mephastophilis?

524:

Explain Chorus Three.
Why does Faustus appear before Charles V (the Emperor)?

Scene Ten:
527-28:

Why is the horse-courser upset with Faustus? Has Faustus treated him fairly? Explain.

Scene Eleven:
529:

Explain the discussion of the grapes.
Explain Chorus Four.

530:

How was Helen "raped" (12.9)?
What is the purpose of the Old Man at this point?

Scene Thirteen:
532:

How do the scholars explain Faustus's strange behavior?

534:

Explain lines 80-85.
Explain lines 89-94. Is Faustus asking God for forgiveness?

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