Where is the play set?
What does Faustus study in college? (i.e., what is his "major"?)
What four sorts of books does Faustus sort through and then discard in the opening scene? Why does he discard each type?
What is the one type of book that still holds interest for Faustus?
What are some of the goals or uses Faustus has in mind when he first imagines summoning demons?
In scene two, how do the other scholars at the university react to rumors of Faustus's necromantic dealings?
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?)
What does Mephistopholis tell Faustus when Faustus starts feeling cocky about his ability to "command" the spirits to appear before him?
What is Faustus's belief about the afterlife?
According to Mephistopholis, where is hell located? (trick question!)
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?)
How are the activities of Wagner and the Clown a mirror scene for scene three? What truth do they reveal about the nature of diabolism and demonic summoning?
According to Mephistopholis, why does Satan want Faustus's soul? What good will it do Satan to have souls?
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.)
What are the five conditions Faustus sets down in the contract?
When does the contract expire?
Faustus asks Mephastophilis to provide him with a wife. Why can't Mephastopholis do this, according to the footnotes in Abrams' edition of the text?
Mephastophilis refuses to tell Faustus who made the world. Why do you suppose he refuses?
What seven figures does Lucifer use to distract Faustus from his prayers?
Of the seven figures, Faustus scorns all of them except one. Which one does he react to positively with the exclamation, "Oh, this feeds my soul!"
After seeing the deadly sins, 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?
Immediately after Faustus is intrigued by one of the seven deadly sins, we switch to scene six. 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?
What bribe does Robin offer to Rafe to get him to participate in his enchantment?
What famous figure in Italy do Mephastopholis and Faustus go to visit?
What spell does Mephastophilis cast on Faustus to allow him some slapstick fun while he is there?
What do Faustus and his companion steal from the Pope? How might this be symbolic?
How does scene eight serve as a mirror scene for scene seven? How might the vintner's desire to have Rafe and Robin pay for their wine tab be symbolic? (i.e. why does Marlowe have them indirectly stealing wine rather than jewels or money?)
Why is Mephastophilis so upset by Rafe and Robin's summoning? What does Mephastophilis do to Rafe and Robin and the Vinter as punishment?
When Faustus goes before the Holy Roman Emperor in Germany, the Emperor wants Faustus to raise up famous spirits of the dead for conversation. Faustus cannot do that, so what does he do instead? What does this limitation in Faustus's magic suggest symbolically or allegorically?
What do Faustus and Mephastophilis do to the rude knight at the emperor's court?
In scene eleven, what trivial task does Faustus appoint to Mephastophilis when he visits the Duke's pregnant wife?
In scene twelve, when Mephastophilis threatens to arrest Faustus' soul for treason and rend it, to whom does Faustus appeal for mercy? Why is this ironic?
How does Mephastophilis distract Faustus from his thoughts of repentance? [I.e., who or what does he bring as the ultimate distraction? How does this choice of temptations correspond to Faustus's reactions to each of the seven deadly sins earlier?
In scene thirteen, Faustus tells the scholars that he cannot call upon God or repent. Why not?
What large object dominates the stage during the last scene? Why does this object's relentless motion cause so much despair in Faustus?
What happens to Faustus at the end of the play--perhaps a bit predictably?
What promise does Faustus make as he is carried off stage?
If you could have supreme power for the next twenty-four years, would you want it? What would you be willing to give up to get this power?
Is man or woman a puppet of fate, or does he or she have free will?
If you could watch a silent movie that replays any specific act in history, what would it be and why?
Is magic good or evil? Defend your answer.
Can religion and science coexist harmoniously?
To what extent does the study of science and the knowledge it imparts eradicate faith?
PROLOGUE
1. How does Marlowe’s characterization of Faustus as coming from parents “base of stock” illustrate Renaissance or humanist views?
2. What does the allusion to Icarus’s “waxen wings” in line 20 have to do with Faustus?
3. Why does Faustus prefer magic if salvation is his “chiefest bliss?” (line 26)
ACT I, SCENE I
1. Why does Dr. Faustus decide to “read no more” logic? (line 10)
2. Discuss the significance of the doctor’s lament: “Yet art thou still but Faustus and a man.”
3. Analyze Faustus’ tone when he says “When all is done, divinity is best.” (line 35)
4. Contrast Faustus’ proclamation “What will be, shall be! Divinity, adieu!” with the quotation above.
(lines 35, 46)
5 Why does Marlowe create the good and bad angel characters?
6. Why might Valdes want “all nations to canonize us?” (line 114)
ACT I, SCENE II
1. What is the fear of the two scholars?
2. Explain the irony when Dr. Faustus calls forth devils and then finds one “too ugly.” (line 26)
3. Discuss the ambiguity when Mephostophilis says Faustus’ conjuring was the immediate, but not ultimate cause of the devil’s appearance? (line 45)
ACT I, SCENE III
1. Discuss the significance of Mephostophilis’ explanation for Lucifer’s fall: “by aspiring pride and insolence, From which God threw him from the face of heaven.” (lines 66-67)
2. What is the symbolic meaning of the bridge Dr. Faustus aims to build? (line 104)
ACT I, SCENE IV
1. What is the purpose, other than comic relief, of the scene between Wagner, Robin, and two devils?
2. What is the difference between the clowns’ goals for conjuring and Faustus’?
ACT II, SCENE I
1. Explain Faustus’ use of metaphor in “The god thou serv’st is thine own appetite.” (line 11)
2. What internal struggle is Faustus undergoing as illustrated by the reappearance of the good and bad angels?
3. What is the allegorical significance of Faustus signing his deed in blood?
4. What is the inscription that appears on the doctor’s arm? Is it actual, or a figment of Faustus’ imagination? Discuss your answer.
5. What does Mephostophilis mean when he exclaims, “All places shall be hell that is not heaven!” (line 131) What is the irony in this line?
6. Why can’t Mephostophilis provide Faustus with a wife? Why is this limitation significant?
ACT II, SCENE II
1. Describe Dr. Faustus’ feelings at the beginning of scene ii.
2. What reason does Faustus give for not repenting?
3. Why won’t Mephostophilis name the maker of the world? What similarity exists between this situation and the devil’s inability to provide a wife?
4. What threat does the bad angel use to keep Faustus from repenting? This is the first of many references to dismemberment in the play. To what type of dismemberment has Faustus already committed?
5. Faustus watches a show of the Seven Deadly Sins. Of which of these is he guilty?
ACT II, SCENE III
1. In this comic scene between Dick and Robin, Robin threatens to “clap . . . a pair of horns” on his master’s head. What might Marlowe be insinuating about Dr. Faustus here?
2. Why does this clown scene appear directly after the previous one?
ACT III, SCENE I
1. Where are Mephostophilis and Dr. Faustus in the opening of Act III? Are they simply sightseeing, or is there another reason for their visit?
2. What does Faustus mean when he refers to the Pope as “proud?” (line 77)
3. Discuss the situation with Bruno and the Pope. How does this conflict illustrate the Renaissance philosophy of humanism?
4. Mephostophilis threatens to “clap huge horns upon the cardinals’ heads.” (line 86). Discuss this emerging pattern of imagery. How does Marlowe use horns as a symbol?
ACT III, SCENE II
1. What is Dr. Faustus’ purpose in freeing Bruno? Think in historic and cultural terms.
2. For what specific offense does Dr. Faustus strike the Pope? Why does the Pope’s action so insult and enrage Dr. Faustus?
3. Explain the irony in the excommunication scene.
ACT III, SCENE III
1. In this comic relief scene, Robin and Dick fool the Vintner by conjuring a cup. What might Marlowe be insinuating about Dr. Faustus’ actions in the previous scenes?
2. Likewise, what might the playwright be saying when the two clowns are so easily able to conjure Mephostophilis?
ACT IV, CHORUS
1. Describe the world’s perception of Dr. Faustus.
2. With whom is Faustus visiting now? Why?
ACT IV, SCENE I
1. Martino explains that Dr. Faustus has been commissioned to conjure for the Emperor. Does this make Dr. Faustus any different from a court jester? Discuss.
2. What might Benvolio’s sleepiness and doubtful words imply about Dr. Faustus?
ACT IV, SCENE II
1. Why does Charles V ask Dr. Faustus to conjure Alexander the Great and his Paramour?
2. Benvolio threatens to turn himself “to a stag” if Faustus is successful. (line 54) To what previously discussed theme does this threat connect? Why does Marlowe use this metaphor?
3. Name two reasons Faustus makes good on Benvolio’s threat.
ACT IV, SCENE III
1. Describe Benvolio’s, Martino’s, and Frederick’s intentions at the beginning of this scene.
2. What previously mentioned motif is recalled when Faustus’ false head falls off?
3. Discuss the significance of Benvolio’s metaphor when he says, “the devil’s alive again!” (line 68).
4. Faustus accuses Benvolio of trying to “dismember” him. (line 92) Can Faustus be “remembered” or put back together? Think both literally as well as figuratively. To add to the pun, how will Faustus be remembered by the world?
ACT IV, SCENE IV
1. Benvolio says Faustus intends to make him and his friends “laughing-stocks to all the world.”
(line 19) With what previously mentioned theme does this quotation fit? Why?
2. Compare Faustus’ choice with Benvolio’s vow, “We’ll rather die with grief than live with
shame.” (line 25).
ACT IV, SCENE V
1. To what human weakness does the Horse-courser fall victim? How does this “fool” parallel Faustus himself?
2. What is significant about the fact that Faustus uses passive voice when he says, “What art thou, Faustus, but a man condemned to die?” (line 25)
3. Discuss the symbolism in the Horse-courser’s plight as well as in Faustus’ leg being ripped off.
ACT IV, SCENE VI
1. In scene vi, the Carter discloses that Faustus has eaten all the Carter’s hay. What might the symbolism be here?
2. What does the collection of offenses reported by the clowns indicate about the way Dr. Faustus is using his powers?
ACT IV, SCENE VII
1. How might the “enchanted castle in the air” erected by Faustus for the Duke of Vanholt be metaphoric? (lines 3-4)
2. Faustus refers to the Duchess’s pregnancy and possible cravings. Why does Marlowe discuss this here?
3. When the Horse-courser says Faustus “does not stand much upon that” (his leg), what might the clown be saying about Faustus’ sense of substance? How does such imagery address the broader theme of reality versus illusion?
ACT V, SCENE I
1. Why do the scholars wish to see Helen of Troy?
2. What is the allegorical role played by the old man in this scene?
3. What threat does Mephostophilis use once again when Faustus considers repentance? Cite the devil’s words directly.
4. Two rhetorical questions contemplate the power of Helen’s beauty:
“Was this fair Helen, whose admired worth Made Greece with ten years’ wars afflict poor Troy?” (lines 27-28)
“Was this the face that launched a thousand ships And burnt the topless towers of Ilium?” (lines 95-96)
What links to Faustus’ own situation are made with these questions?
ACT V, SCENE II
1. Describe Dr. Faustus’ emotional state at the start of this scene. What is the reason for this state?
2. To whom has Faustus left his worldly goods? Discuss the significance of this choice.
3. What role do the three scholars play in this scene?
4. What common metaphor does Faustus recall when he says, “I writ them a bill with mine own blood?” (lines 69-70)
5. What reason does Faustus give the scholars when they ask why he never asked for help or prayer?
6. What line from this scene suggests Faustus was a victim of fate?
7. Explain the good angel’s use of “world” when he says of Faustus, “Innumerable joys had followed thee. But thou did’st love the world.” (lines 107-108)
ACT V, SCENE III
1. What evidence tells the Scholars that Faustus has descended to hell?
2. What reasons do they give for granting Faustus a Christian burial?
3. Some critics assert that this scene is ambiguous, and that Faustus may have been saved. Why might they think this? Discuss your reactions.
ACT V, CHORUS
1. Explain the allusion to Apollo in this scene. Why was Apollo’s laurel bough “burned,” according to the chorus?
2. Why does Marlowe choose the oxymoron “fiendful fortune?” Might “fortune” have a double meaning?
*Copyright Dr. L. Kip Wheeler 1998-2016. Permission is granted for non-profit, educational, and student reproduction.
**Penguin Books