Prologue Flashcards
prologue : summary
shows how marlowe was influence by conventions of greek tragedy - play begins with a chorus.
what does the chorus establish faustus as?
an everyman figure and a humanist / renaissance thinker
‘not marching … in the ____ of ________’ prologue
fields, trasimene
‘nor sporting in the _________ of _____’ - prologue
dalliance, love
‘nor in the pomp of ______ ____________ _____’ - prologue
proud audacious deeds
what technique is used in the quotes ‘not marching now in the fields of trasimene’ ‘nor sporting in the dalliance of love’ ‘nor in the pomp of proud audacious deeds’ and how does this present the protagonist ; prologue
listing and negation. presents him as an everyman figure rather than a noble tragic hero.
what do we learn about faustus’ background as his parents are described as being ‘base of stock’? - prologue
he comes from a low social rank and humble origins which goes against standards conventions to make the message of the morality play relatable to everyone
what technique is used in the quote ‘riper years to wittenberg’ ‘fruitful plot of scholarism’ ‘sweet delight disputes’ - prologue
semantic field of gluttony/food
how does marlowe present the pursuit of knowledge in the quotes ‘riper years to wittenberg’ ‘fruitful plot of scholarism’ ‘sweet delight disputes’? - prologue
full-filling, necessary to life
how does marlowe link faustus to a mythical character?
‘his waxen wings did mount above his reach’
what is the story of icarus?
icarus and his father daedalus escaped from capture by flying away with wings made from wax and feathers. icarus, because if his arrogance and pride, flew to close the sun and the wax melted, causing him to fall to his death
why did marlowe link faustus to icarus in the prologue?
foreshadowing faustus downfall as his hamartia is his hubris, similar to icarus
context - wittenberg and the protestant reformation
martin luther, a radical professor of theology worked at wittenberg, he criticised the corruption of the catholic church and led to the protestant reformation
why does marlowe have faustus and martin luther attend the same unviertsity?
draw similarities between the two suggesting faustus is a revolutionary, radical thinker
