Doctor Faustus Summary

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Questions and Answers

What motivates Doctor Faustus to pursue magic?

  • The advice of the two scholars
  • Feeling that he has exhausted traditional studies (correct)
  • His interest in learning about hell and its devils
  • The encouragement from the Good Angel

Who tries to dissuade Faustus from practicing unholy magic?

  • Cornelius
  • Valdes
  • The Good Angel (correct)
  • Mephastophilis

What do the two scholars lament about Faustus' behavior?

  • His interest in magic (correct)
  • His kindness towards others
  • His lack of ambition
  • His desire for a simple life

Who informs Faustus that he can do nothing not commanded by Lucifer?

<p>Mephastophilis (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Faustus offer to Lucifer in exchange for unlimited power and knowledge?

<p>$24 years of unlimited power and knowledge (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who does Faustus summon by casting spells?

<p>A devil named Mephastophilis (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the initial reaction of Mephastophilis when Faustus summons him?

<p>He refuses to appear (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the horse-courser when he rides Faustus' horse into a pond?

<p>The horse vanishes, plunging the horse-courser into the water. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What body part of Faustus comes off when the horse-courser tries to wake him up?

<p>Leg (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What request does the Duchess make to Faustus at the Duke's court?

<p>To make grapes appear in the middle of winter. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why does Faustus ask Mephastophilis to send demons after an old man?

<p>For making Faustus doubt himself. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Faustus ask Mephastophilis to do with Helen of Greece?

<p>Make her his lover. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why do the group of scholars pray for Faustus' soul as his death nears?

<p>They are horrified by the deal Faustus made with Lucifer. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

"One drop of Christ's blood" could save Faustus from his impending doom. What does this statement reveal about Faustus?

<p>His fear of eternal damnation. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Faustus try to bargain with God for in exchange for his salvation?

<p>$100,000 years in hell. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What happens to Faustus as soon as the clock strikes midnight?

<p>Devils surround him and drag him away. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the moral lesson that the chorus delivers at the end of the play?

<p>Not to pursue unlawful knowledge beyond human limits. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why does Faustus struggle with repentance as his death approaches?

<p>He thinks repenting will make him weak. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Faustus hesitate about in his study?

<p>Repenting and turning back to God (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why does Faustus sign the agreement with Lucifer in his own blood?

<p>To certify the agreement (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who does Faustus want Mephastophilis to summon for him?

<p>A devil-woman for marriage (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What makes Faustus want to repent again?

<p>Mephastophilis' refusal to answer about the world's creation (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why is Mephastophilis frustrated when summoned by Robin and Rafe?

<p>They summon him for a banal task (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What makes Charles V uncomfortable during Faustus' visit to his court?

<p>Seeing Faustus perform devilish magic (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Faustus repay the knight's rudeness with?

<p>$2^4$ horns on his head (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

"Renewing his resolve to give his soul to Lucifer" occurs after Faustus ________.

<p>&quot;Asks Mephastophilis more questions about hell&quot; (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who is the devil Faustus summons when he first tries necromancy?

<p>Mephastophilis (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Where does Doctor Faustus live?

<p>Wittenberg (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who is Faustus's student and servant in the play?

<p>Wagner (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which character does not sell their soul to Lucifer in the play?

<p>Wagner (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who represents Lucifer's interests in Faustus's affairs?

<p>Mephastophilis (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which character primarily delivers monologues in the play?

<p>Chorus (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In what century does the play Doctor Faustus take place?

<p>16th century (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who is described as the tragic hero of Marlowe's play?

<p>Doctor Faustus (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What traditional figure does the Chorus represent in Greek tragedy?

<p>Chorus (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role does Mephastophilis play at Faustus's side throughout much of the play?

<p>Advisor (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Lucifer usually represent through Mephastophilis's actions?

<p>Distant interest (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What makes Doctor Faustus a tragic hero in Marlowe's play?

<p>Selling his soul to Lucifer for knowledge and power (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who is the vintner in the play 'Doctor Faustus'?

<p>A wine merchant demanding a stolen goblet from Robin and Rafe (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Faustus do to the knight Benvolio in 'Doctor Faustus'?

<p>Places a horn on his head in revenge (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who helps Bruno, the pope's rival, escape back to Germany in 'Doctor Faustus'?

<p>Faustus and Mephastophilis (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In 'Doctor Faustus', who is with Alexander when summoned by Faustus?

<p>The Clown (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who does Faustus encounter on the road who sells him some hay in 'Doctor Faustus'?

<p>The Carter (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What do Robin and Rafe summon demons for in 'Doctor Faustus'?

<p>To scare off the vintner demanding a stolen goblet (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who disguises themselves as two cardinals in the B-text of 'Doctor Faustus'?

<p>Faustus and Mephastophilis (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

'Doctor Faustus' portrays which character as skeptical of Faustus's magical powers?

<p>Benvolio (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is Wagner's promise to the Clown in 'Doctor Faustus'?

<p>To teach him magic (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of Bruno in 'Doctor Faustus'?

<p>Pope's rival supported by Charles V (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who are with the pope in his chambers when Faustus visits in 'Doctor Faustus'?

<p>Two Cardinals (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role do the Good Angel and Evil Angel play in Doctor Faustus's life?

<p>They offer contradictory advice whenever he wavers in his resolve. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who is Robin in Doctor Faustus, and how does he contrast with Faustus?

<p>A stable-hand who bumbles through foolish magical attempts, contrasting Faustus's serious sorcery. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What happens when the Horse-courser disobeys Faustus's warning not to ride the horse in water?

<p>The horse becomes uncontrollable and throws the Horse-courser off. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which character is antagonized by Faustus and Mephastophilis through practical jokes and annoying behavior?

<p>The Pope (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why does Faustus make horns appear on the head of the Knight at Charles' Court?

<p>To punish the Knight for his skepticism. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do the Three Scholars in Wittenberg react to Faustus's interest in necromancy?

<p>They gossip about and bemoan his actions. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In Doctor Faustus, who is summoned by Lucifer to entertain Faustus with a show of sins?

<p>Robin (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the profession of Valdes and Cornelius, and what influence do they have on Faustus?

<p>They are magicians who encourage Faustus to delve into magic. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role does Belzebub play in Doctor Faustus?

<p>He is a devil sometimes summoned by Faustus or assisting Lucifer and Mephastophilis. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What impresses Emperor Charles V during Faustus's visit?

<p>Faustus's performance of magic tricks for entertainment. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In Doctor Faustus, what advice does the Old Man offer to Faustus?

<p>To repent and seek God's forgiveness. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why does the Duchess of Vanholt ask Faustus to perform a magical trick?

<p>To fulfill her desire for fresh grapes in winter. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the ultimate sin that Faustus commits in 'Doctor Faustus'?

<p>Selling his soul to Lucifer (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the good angel and old man in 'Doctor Faustus'?

<p>Personifications of Faustus's conscience (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What condemns Faustus to spend an eternity in hell in the play?

<p>Selling his soul to Lucifer (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why does Faustus's desire to repent at the end of his life fail?

<p>He asks God for forgiveness too late (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What effect does gaining absolute power have on Faustus according to the text?

<p>It transforms his boundless ambition into a delight in petty celebrity. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In 'Doctor Faustus', what do the good angel and the evil angel represent?

<p>Faustus's divided will. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why does separation from God render one powerless according to the text?

<p>It condemns individuals to mediocrity. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is Faustus constantly undecided about in the play?

<p>Whether he should continue to follow his pact with Lucifer or repent and return to God. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What do the good angel and the evil angel urge Faustus to do in the play?

<p>Good angel urges him to repent, evil angel urges him to continue his pact with Lucifer. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What negative outcome does Faustus experience after gaining absolute power?

<p>He becomes mediocre and becomes delighting in petty celebrity. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one significant way in which Faustus's final moments differ from the rest of the play?

<p>He is in a universe where redemption is impossible. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does Marlowe highlight the clash between medieval and Renaissance values in 'Doctor Faustus'?

<p>By having Faustus embrace classical learning and secular matters. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Faustus's early ambition to pile up great wealth and plumb the mysteries of the universe reveal about him?

<p>His desire for personal power and knowledge. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does Faustus's perception of his power change after he attains it?

<p>His horizons seem to narrow. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role does theology play in the medieval model that Faustus rejects in 'Doctor Faustus'?

<p>It restricts individual inquiry. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does Marlowe's depiction of Faustus's descent from grand ambitions to petty conjuring tricks contribute to the play's themes?

<p>It symbolizes a Faustian dead end. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What idea does Faustus explicitly reject in his opening speech in 'Doctor Faustus'?

<p>Tradition and authority (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does Marlowe portray Faustus's tragic fate as a clash between two different eras?

<p>As a symbol of the clash between the medieval and Renaissance worlds (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one key theme that Dawkins's remark about Doctor Faustus conveys?

<p>The clash between traditional and emerging values (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In what way does Marlowe depict Faustus as a hero of the new modern world?

<p>By portraying him as free from religious constraints (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one significant change that occurs in Faustus's outlook once he gains unlimited power?

<p>His ambitions narrow down (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does Marlowe use Faustus's rejection of medieval thinking to enhance the play's themes?

<p>To showcase his defiance against limitations (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

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Study Notes

Doctor Faustus' Motivations and Goals

  • Doctor Faustus is motivated to pursue magic to gain unlimited power and knowledge.
  • He offers his soul to Lucifer in exchange for power and knowledge.

Characters and Their Roles

  • Mephastophilis is a devil who serves Lucifer and represents Lucifer's interests in Faustus' affairs.
  • Wagner is Faustus' student and servant in the play.
  • Valdes and Cornelius are scholars who influence Faustus with their knowledge of necromancy.
  • Belzebub is a devil who plays a role in Doctor Faustus.
  • The Good Angel and Evil Angel represent moral guidance and temptation in Faustus' life.
  • The Old Man offers Faustus advice and represents moral guidance.

Plot and Events

  • Faustus summons Mephastophilis by casting spells.
  • Faustus asks Mephastophilis to send demons after an old man.
  • Faustus tries to bargain with God for his salvation, but it's too late.
  • Faustus eventually struggles with repentance as his death approaches.
  • He tries to repent, but it's too late, and he is damned to hell.

Themes and Symbolism

  • The play portrays the clash between medieval and Renaissance values.
  • Faustus' descent from grand ambitions to petty conjuring tricks contributes to the play's themes of power and morality.
  • The Good Angel and Evil Angel represent moral guidance and temptation.
  • Lucifer represents evil and temptation, while God represents redemption and salvation.

Character Analysis

  • Doctor Faustus is a tragic hero who struggles with morality and repentance.
  • He is unwilling to accept moral guidance and is tempted by power and knowledge.
  • Faustus' constant indecision and struggle with morality lead to his downfall.

Setting and Context

  • The play takes place in the 16th century.
  • Doctor Faustus lives in Wittenberg, Germany.

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