Name: Date:

THE TRAGICAL HISTORY OF DOCTOR FAUSTUS

Opening Chorus: 1. Research the Battle of Lake Trasimene.

2. What three things will this play not do?

3. What WILL this play do?

4. Define dalliance.

5. Who are the Muses?

6. Where was Faustus born?

7. What does it mean that his parents are “base of stock”?

8. Where did he live when he was growing up?

9. What did Faustus become doctor of?

10. Lines 20-22 suggest that Faustus flew too close to the sun. Who is that an allusion to? And how did he “fly too close”?

11. Now that he has learned all of the earthly subjects, what is he studying at the opening of the play (there are 2 correct answers)? Scene 1: 12. Where is the play set?

13. Define soliloquy.

14. Translate Bene disserere est finis logices?

15. What is the purpose of logic?

16. What four sorts of books does Faustus sort through and then discard in the opening scene? Why does he discard each type?

17. What is the one type of book that still holds interest for Faustus?

18. What are some of the goals or uses Faustus has in mind when he first imagines summoning demons?

Scene 2: 19. In scene two, how do the other scholars at the university react to rumors of Faustus's necromantic dealings?

Scene: 3 20. “Be propitious to me, gods of Acheron! May the triple deity of Jehovah prevail! Spirits of fire, air, water, hail! Belzebub, Prince of the East, monarch of burning hell, and Demogorgon, we propitiate ye, that Mephistophilis may appear and rise. Why dost thou delay? By Jehovah, Gehenna, and the holy water which now I sprinkle, and the sign of the cross which now I make, and by our prayer, may Mephistophilis now summoned by us arise!” What does Faustus do to summon Mephistophilis?

21. What problem does Faustus encounter when he first summons Mephistopholis? (i.e., why does he require the demon to leave the stage and then re-enter?)

22. What does Mephistopholis tell Faustus when Faustus starts feeling cocky about his ability to "command" the spirits to appear before him?

23. What is Faustus's belief about the afterlife? 24. According to Mephistopholis, where is hell located? (trick question!)

25. After talking to Mephistopholis, Faustus is left alone on stage at the end of scene three. What are some of the plans he has for using his demonic servants? (i.e., what are some of the things he wants to achieve?)

26. Allusions: a. Orion b. Jehovah c. Acheron d. Gehenna e. Elysium

Scene 4 27. How are the activities of Wagner and the Clown a mirror scene for scene three?

28. What truth do these actions reveal about the nature of diabolism and demonic summoning?

Scene 5 29. According to Mephistopholis, why does Satan want Faustus's soul? What good will it do Satan to have souls?

30. When Faustus makes a cut on his arm to write his name in blood on the demonic contract, what initially happens when he waits for the blood to drip out? What does this suggest? After he signs the contract, the blood on his arm forms into letters. What words do the droplets of blood form? (Either provide the Latin or the translation.)

31. What are the five conditions Faustus sets down in the contract? 32. When does the contract expire?

33. Faustus asks Mephastophilis to provide him with a wife. Why can't Mephastopholis do this.

Scene 6: 34. Mephastophilis refuses to tell Faustus who made the world. Why do you suppose he refuses? What limitations does this moment suggest about Faustus’ new demonic connections? How is this symbolic?

35. What seven figures does Lucifer use to distract Faustus from his prayers?

36. Can you think of an example (in your own life or from modern media) that illustrates someone giving in to each of the seven? a.

b.

c.

d.

e.

f.

g.

37. After begin introduced to the seven figures, how does Faustus react? 38. After seeing the seven figures, Lucifer offers Faustus a book that will instruct him in shape-changing ("take this book, peruse it thoroughly, and thou shalt turn thyself into what shape thou wilt.") What is the symbolism here?

Scene 7: 39. What famous figure in Italy do Mephastopholis and Faustus go to visit?

40. What spell does Mephastophilis cast on Faustus to allow him some slapstick fun while he is there?

41. What do Faustus and his companion steal from the Pope?

42. What is the significance of “bell, book, and candle”?

43. Why is Faustus so upset when the Pope “crosses himself”?

Scene 8 and 9: 44. Here, Robin is also up to a bit of witchery as well. What mighty magic does he wish to work upon the parish maidens? How is this a mirror scene for what took place in scene five and in scene twelve?

45. What bribe does Robin offer to Ralph to get him to participate in his enchantment?

46. Why is Mephastophilis so upset by Ralph and Robin's summoning? What does Mephastophilis do to Ralph and Robin as punishment?

Scene 10: 47. When Faustus goes before the Holy Roman Emperor in Germany, who does the Emperor want Faustus to raise up from the dead?

48. Faustus cannot do that, so what does he do instead? What does this limitation in Faustus's magic suggest symbolically or allegorically? 49. What do Faustus and Mephastophilis do to the rude knight at the emperor's court?

50. Never one to give something for nothing, what is Faustus’ reward for doing the Emperor’s bidding?

Scene 11: 51. In scene eleven, what does the horse-course want?

52. What is the one requirement that Faustus makes of him?

53. Just before Faustus “falls asleep” he makes an allusion to the crucifixion of Christ “Christ did call the thief upon the cross”. This refers to a criminal who, in the moments before death begged Christ’s forgiveness of his sins. What does this suggest about Faustus?

54. Does the Courser abide by that dictum? What is the result of his actions?

55. What awful trick do they play on the Horse Courser? Which of the 7 Deadly sins is being exphibited there.

Scene 12 56. What trivial task does Faustus appoint to Mephastophilis when he visits the Duke's pregnant wife?

57. Referring as far back as question 38, how have Faustus’ pursuits changed since the beginning of the play?

Scene 13: 58. What is it that the scholars desire at the opening of Scene 13? Does Faustus grant them their desire?

59. What does the Old Man seem to already know about Faustus? What change does this create in Faustus’ behavior?

60. When Mephastophilis threatens to arrest Faustus' soul for treason and rend it, to whom does Faustus appeal for mercy? Why is this ironic?

61. Faustus’ allegiance continues to waver and he promises to realign himself with Lucifer if Mephistophilis will give him his last request. What is that request?

Scene 14 62. Faustus tells the scholars that he cannot call upon God or repent. Why not?

63. What large object dominates the stage during the last scene? Why does this object's relentless motion cause so much despair in Faustus?

64. What happens to Faustus at the end of the play--perhaps a bit predictably?