1.4

Question 1

what are the main points of 1.4?

Answer 1

1 - comedic scene with an aim of making people laugh

2 - dramatic mirroring/structural parallel. despite scholarly intellect Faustus is:
a) driven by his base desire
b) desire for omnipotence

Question 2

what type of character is robin the clown?

Answer 2

stock character of clown

Question 3

what do wagner and robin embody in 1.4?

Answer 3

Faustus’s flaws

Question 4

what term does wagner why to repeatedly refer to robin?

Answer 4

sirrah

Question 5

what does sirrah mean?

Answer 5

term of address for a man or boy, especially one younger or of lower status than the speaker

Question 6

what’s the use of repetition of sirrah?

Answer 6

emphasizes wagners desire for power and respect

similarity to term of address for a man or boy, especially one younger or of lower status than the speaker who wants to ‘‘profit’’

Question 7

why does marlowe use ‘‘(aside)’’?

Answer 7

marlowe uses dramatic technique to highlight foolishness of robin giving agency to the audience

Question 8

what does ‘‘(aside)’’ do/mean?

Answer 8

where the character speaks directly to the audience

Question 9

what are wagners threats?

Answer 9

'’bind yourself presently unto me/or ill turn all the lice about thee into familiars’

Question 10

what does wagner command robin to do?

Answer 10

'’call me Master Wagner’’

Question 11

how do wagners threats and commands present him?

Answer 11

it presents him as demanding - he enjoys power, immediately wanting status over another = this mirrors Faustus’s desire for omnipotence

however his threats lack weight as robin already had his flesh torn to pieces, literally by lice - this again highlights wagners foolishness

Question 12

how does marlowe present robin through him confusing ‘‘guilders’’ and ‘‘gridirons’’ and referring to ‘‘Baliol and Belcher’’ as ‘‘Banios and Belchios’’

Answer 12

it presents him as an unthinking clown

Question 13

what does robin do that mirrors faustus?

Answer 13

he unthinkingly signs a contract to be wagners servant in order to fulfill his base desires

Question 14

where and why is there a structural parallel in 1.4?

Answer 14

purposefully placed between 1.3 and 2.1, two scenes where Faustus makes the deal to sell his soul

Faustus thinks he’s getting a good dal, by selling his soul for 24 years in opulence and pleasure, but really its no better than robins suggestion that he’ll only sell his soul for mutton (well roasted - p.g 25)

dramatically mirrors: a supposed ‘’ master’’ (Faustus/wagner) and a supposed ‘‘servant’’ (meph/robin)