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    Faustus Seminar Questions

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    Danna Montalbano
    Marlowe explores the theme of illusion versus reality throughout Dr. Faustus. Many things that seem real, such as the illusions Faustus conjures, end up being illusions. The reward Mephostophilis promised in exchange for Faustus' soul may not have been real. Faustus asserts that his own appetite is his god, and Marlowe examines Faustus' changing and insatiable hunger and cravings throughout the play. There are many references to dismemberment, as Faustus commits a type of self-mutilation in selling his soul, and his body is ultimately dismembered, representing the irony of his fate.

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    Faustus Seminar Questions

    Uploaded by

    Danna Montalbano
    94 views2 pages
    Marlowe explores the theme of illusion versus reality throughout Dr. Faustus. Many things that seem real, such as the illusions Faustus conjures, end up being illusions. The reward Mephostophilis promised in exchange for Faustus' soul may not have been real. Faustus asserts that his own appetite is his god, and Marlowe examines Faustus' changing and insatiable hunger and cravings throughout the play. There are many references to dismemberment, as Faustus commits a type of self-mutilation in selling his soul, and his body is ultimately dismembered, representing the irony of his fate.

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    Marlowe explores the theme of illusion versus reality throughout Dr. Faustus. Many things that seem real, such as the illusions Faustus conjures, end up being illusions. The reward Mephostophilis promised in exchange for Faustus' soul may not have been real. Faustus asserts that his own appetite is his god, and Marlowe examines Faustus' changing and insatiable hunger and cravings throughout the play. There are many references to dismemberment, as Faustus commits a type of self-mutilation in selling his soul, and his body is ultimately dismembered, representing the irony of his fate.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as doc, pdf, or txt
    94 views2 pages

    Faustus Seminar Questions

    Uploaded by

    Danna Montalbano
    Marlowe explores the theme of illusion versus reality throughout Dr. Faustus. Many things that seem real, such as the illusions Faustus conjures, end up being illusions. The reward Mephostophilis promised in exchange for Faustus' soul may not have been real. Faustus asserts that his own appetite is his god, and Marlowe examines Faustus' changing and insatiable hunger and cravings throughout the play. There are many references to dismemberment, as Faustus commits a type of self-mutilation in selling his soul, and his body is ultimately dismembered, representing the irony of his fate.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as doc, pdf, or txt
    of 2

    Dr.

    Faustus- seminar questions

    1. Marlowe explores the concept of appearance versus reality throughout Dr. Faustus.
    Trace this theme throughout the play. What seems real at first, but ends up being only
    illusion? Consider the illusions Faustus conjures, such as the horns on Benvolio’s head
    and the Carter’s hay, but also consider the illusions performed for Faustus himself. Was
    the reward Mephostophilis promised in exchange for Faustus’ soul “real?” Was it worth
    the price?

    2.. What is the role of the clown in Dr. Faustus? Discuss the purpose of the comic relief
    scenes. Is it more than comic relief? Name all the characters that play the role of fool.
    Consider all the references to horned heads. Is Faustus himself a fool? Why or why not?
    Cite specific scenes and quotations that support your view.

    3. In Act II Faustus asserts, “the god thou serv’st is thine own appetite.” Examine
    Marlowe’s use of hunger and cravings. Consider the scene with the Seven Deadly Sins as
    well as the scene with the pregnant Duchess of Vanholt. What exactly does Faustus crave
    at the start of the play? Do his appetites change or grow as the play progresses? Is his
    hunger ever satiated? What comment might Marlowe be making about the nature of
    desire?

    4. Why are there so many references to dismemberment in Dr. Faustus? Who constantly
    threatens to tear Faustus limb from limb? Why? Does Faustus commit a type of self
    mutilation when he sells his soul? Why does he lose a limb and his head to the Horse-
    courser and the courtiers? Discuss the irony when his body is dismembered in the last
    scene.

    5. Discuss the play’s conflict between fate and free will. Does Faustus freely choose to
    sell his soul, or is he the victim of fate? Defend your answer. Consider Mephostophilis’
    reply when Faustus asks if his conjuring raised the devil:
    “That was the cause but yet per accidens:
    For when we hear one rack the name of God,
    Abjure the Scriptures and his savior Christ,
    We fly in hope to get his glorious soul.
    Nor will we come unless he use such means
    Whereby he is in danger to be damned” (I, iii, 45-50).
    Why do Faustus’ many considerations of repentance always end in stronger resolve
    towards Lucifer?

    6. In The Poetics Aristotle defines a tragic hero as a character who occupies a high status
    or position and embodies nobility and virtue as part of his innate character. While great,
    the tragic hero is not perfect and is therefore able to appear sympathetic to mortal
    audiences. Due to this imperfection or flaw (hamartia), which is often pride or arrogance
    (hubris), the hero’s downfall is somewhat his own fault, the result of free will rather than
    fate. However, the hero’s fall is not completely fair because the punishment exceeds the
    crime. Prior to his end, the tragic hero experiences a sense of self discovery and sorrow
    for his flaw and for the outcomes it has produced. Is Dr. Faustus a tragic hero? If not,
    which parts of the definition fit him and which do not? If he is not a tragic hero, how can
    Dr. Faustus- seminar questions

    he be classified? A heroic humanist? Can a man who sells his soul be considered a hero
    of any sort? Is he a villain? Explain your answer.

    7. Is ambition a fatal flaw? Consider other ambitious protagonists of the Elizabethan


    period, such as Macbeth and Julius Caesar. How does this character trait fit into the
    humanist view of the period? Is Marlowe indicting ambition, warning against its dangers,
    or merely asking his audience to examine its complicated facets? How is ambition
    viewed in current society? Examine the role of ambition today, referencing well-known
    individuals and the results of their ambition.

    8. Some critics believe the ending of the play is ambiguous and that Faustus’ final
    revelations lead him to heaven rather than accompany him to hell. Re-read Act V, scenes
    ii and iii. What evidence is provided to support each view? What is your interpretation?

    9. Is Dr. Faustus a Christian allegory or morality play? Or is it an indictment of religion


    as an imprisonment of freedom? Consider the characteristics of morality plays and
    allegories, as well as man’s historical struggle between science and religion in the
    Renaissance. Cite specific evidence from the play to support your answer.

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