Dr Faustus - The play + Guiding Questions

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 4

Christopher Marlowe's Dr Faustus

LITERARY HISTORY

Lesson Monday the 11th of January

Literary History

You've prepared your section of the play and answered the guiding questions. Instead of performing the play, you are going to summarize your section and answer the guiding questions with your group members in the Google Meet. The other students take notes.

https://earlybritishlit.pressbooks.com/chapter/christopher-marlowe-doctor-faustus/

Plot

 Faustus has learned everything he can learn, but is still not satisfied.

 He becomes interested in magic.

 Unknowingly, he summons a devil: Mephistophilis (a servant of Satan)

Group Work

Group 1

p. 22-23: “Settle thy studies, Faustus, and begin – Lord and commander of these elements”

1.​ ​Explain which characteristics of the Renaissance are reflected in this extract. 

2.​ ​Explain what the Good Angel and the Evil Angel want Faustus to do. 

Group 2

p. 23-24 “Now, Faustus must – EVIL ANGEL. No, Faustus; think of honour and wealth.”

1.​ ​Explain what Faustus is contemplating. How does this reflect the different views on life and death in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance? 

2.​ ​What do the Good Angel and the Evil Angel persuade Faustus to do? What is their argument? 

Group Work

Group 3

p. 25-26 “FAUSTUS. Of Wealth! – And then be thou as great as Lucifer.”

1.​ ​Explain the deal Faustus is making here with the devil. 

2.​ ​Mephistophilis is a servant of Lucifer. What could Mephistophilis as a character foreshadow?

 

Group 4

p. 26-27 “FAUSTUS. [Stabbing his arm] Lo, Mephistophilis, for love of thee – Then write again, FAUSTUS GIVES TO THEE HIS SOUL.

1.​ ​What is Faustus doing here? Faustus’ blood congeals. What could this foreshadow? 

2.​ ​How is the tone different from the beginning? 

Group Work

Group 5

p. 27-29 “FAUSTUS. Ah, Faustus, - Impose some end to my incessant pain”

1.​ ​What is Faustus discussing here and how has this changed compared to the beginning of the extract? 

2.​ ​What is the tone?

Group 6

p. 29-30 “Let Faustus live in hell a thousand years – To practice more than heavenly power permits”

1.​ ​How does Faustus feel about his current situation? Give evidence from the text. 

2.​ ​What is the message of the Chorus? 

Performance

 Throughout the play, Faustus gets many chances to turn back to God, but he does not listen. Dramatic effect!

 Faustus leads a bad life: he can do everything, but only commits bad deeds.

 After 24 years of this life, the time has come to pay the price…

 Faustus tries to repent in the end, but then it’s too late!

Watch the final scene performed in Shakespeare's Globe! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIIqxnmQ_es

www.britishtheatreguide.info

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIIqxnmQ_es&t=12s

Themes

-  Temptation of Power

 - Dread of Damnation (Christian doctrine)

Which of the themes is more prominent in the beginning of the play and which one in the ending of the play? Explain.

Research Task 

You are going to research 2 topics: King Henry VIII and humanism. Follow the instructions on the next two slides and upload your answers to Classroom.

This is homework for Monday the 18th of January.

Research - Religion

Watch the clip on the next slide and answer the questions:

1. What happened during the Reformation (16th century)?
2. When did King Henry VIII rule?
3. How many wives did he have? What happened to them?
4. Why is he so famous? How did he change the country?

Source: Britannica.com

Video  - Edpuzzle

https://edpuzzle.com/assignments/5fff3ea023643f426ae5a5ec/watch

Research - Humanism

Humanism

1. What is humanism?
   
2. Who were some of the key figures?
   

Look up information about this topic. Use at least 2 different sources and acknowledge these.

biography.com

Extra activity: Response

Choose one of the four questions and write a short response.

1. If you could have supreme power for the next 24 years, would you want it? What would you be willing to give up to get this power?
   
2. Is man or woman a puppet of fate, or does he or she have free will?
   
3. Is magic good or evil? Defend your answer.
   
4. Can religion and science coexist harmoniously?