Theme: Temptation, Sin and Redemption

Question 1

How is temptation presented in the play?

Answer 1

Temptation is everywhere in the play. Faustus is tempted from the beginning with the promises of his thirst for knowledge and power to be quenched;

Question 2

“Till, swollen with cunning, of a self-conceit,
His waxen wings did mount above his reach”

Answer 2

Chorus, Prologue
AO1: Plosives, Allusion, Rhyming Couplet, Foreshadowing
AO2: Faustus’ selfish motives of finding endless knowledge and power after being tempted by necromancy leads to his tragic end, much like how Icarus flew too close to the sun and died
AO3: Aristotle’s aspects of a tragic hero (hamartia, peripeteia, anagnorisis, catharsis)

Question 3

“Divinity, adieu! These metaphysics of magicians,
And necromantic books are heavenly!”

Answer 3

Faustus, Scene 1
AO1: Exclamative sentences, oxymoronic, celestial language, soliloquy
AO2: Faustus’ revelation feels heavenly, but in reality is the start to his downfall at his own hands for turning his back on God
AO3: Humanism ideals in the Renaissance

Question 4

“To give me whatsoever I ask,
To tell me whatsoever I demand,
To slay mine enemies, and aid my friends,
And always be obedient to my will.”

Answer 4

Faustus, Scene 3
AO1: Anaphora
AO2: After summoning Mephistopheles, Faustus is already filled with demands despite not even having sold his soul away (prime example of his hamartia)

Question 5

“Had I as many souls as there be stars,
I’d give them all for Mephistopheles.”

Answer 5

Faustus, Scene 3
AO1: Celestial language, irony, soliloquy
AO2: Faustus’ heavenly description of Mephistopheles displays his blind trust and creates irony as his demonic advisor is a creature from hell and not the angel Faustus believes him to be

Question 6

“Never too late, if Faustus will repent.”

Answer 6

Good Angel, Scene 5
AO1: Allegory
AO2: This not only serves as a chance of redemption for Faustus but is a reminder to the audience they must repent for their sins before it is too late
AO3: Morality play and Faustus serving as the Everyman

Question 7

“But Faustus’ offense can ne’er be pardoned! The serpent that tempted Eve may be saved, but not Faustus.”

Answer 7

Faustus, Scene 13
AO1: Religious and bestial imagery, 3rd person address
AO2: Faustus’ belief that even the devil in the garden on Eden can be forgiven by God displays how hopeless he feels for refusing to repent; he knows repenting to God at this point is useless to him
AO3: Catharsis