Faustus Quotes + AO2

Question 1

What is the name for a character who comes from ‘humble beginnings’?

Answer 1

Everyman figure

Question 2

Who speaks the prologue?

Answer 2

The chorus

Question 3

“Not matching now in fields of Tradimene… nor sporting in the dalliance of love… nor in the pomp of proud and audacious deeds”

Answer 3

• Anaphoric repitition of negators
• not fighting as Faustus is a learned man - not typical tragic hero
• unmarried - not fulfilling Christian duty
• not brave or bold - not fulfilling expectations
• presented as an Everyman figure

Question 4

“Riper years to Wittenberg… fruitful plot… sweet delights”

Answer 4

• semantic field of food and nourishment/ gluttony
• Faustus is greedy

Question 5

“Profits in divinity”

Answer 5

• religious and moral learning is beyond financial gain, yet Faustus benefits superficially

Question 6

“His waxen wings did mount above his reach, and melting heavens conspired his overthrow”

Answer 6

• classical allusion - Icarus downfall
• Icarus harmartia = overreaching
• same as Faustus
• foreshadows Faustus’ downfall
• Renaissance- looking back at Ancient Greece

Question 7

“Surfeits upon cursed necromancy”

Answer 7

• Faustus rests on necromancy, shows its importance to him

Question 8

“Logics chiefest end?”
“Thou hast attain’d that end”
“Hast thou not attained that end?”

Answer 8

• emphatic repetition of ‘end’
• emphasises Faustus’ insatiable ambition for knowledge and the frustration that the four key academic disciples - philosophy, law, medicine and divinity- are flawed and offer finite knowledge

Question 9

Faustus quotes prominent figures, like Aristotle and Galen, before dismissing their ideas. What does this show?

Answer 9

Faustus’ hubris is reflected in his dismissal of popular figures and their ideas, as well as their status

Question 10

“The reward of sun is death”

Answer 10

Faustus misquotes the Bible
Lack of care for religion

Question 11

What does Faustus want to gain from necromancy?

Answer 11

Omnipotence

Question 12

“Necromantic books are heavenly”

Answer 12

• antithesis (contrast between good and evil)
• To an Elizabethan audience, black magic would be viewed as incredibly dangerous
• heresy

Question 13

“What a world of profit and delight, of power, of honour, of omnipotence”

Answer 13

• tricolon
• Superficial pleasures of money and women valued
• gluttonous for knowledge

Question 14

“A sound magician is a mighty god.”
“Gain a deity”

Answer 14

• Faustus desires to usurp God
• Elizabethan audience view him as controversial, foolish and blasphemous
• His intentions to transgress will lead to his downfall