Christopher Marlowe's The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus

Just the Facts

• What are some of Faustus' achievements that he reflects on near the beginning of the play? Why is he not satisfied with these achievements?
• What does Faustus think that he can gain through necromancy?
• Who are Valdes and Cornelius?
• Who is Wagner?
• According to Mephastophilis, Faustus' use of "conjuring speeches" is the immediate cause, but not the ultimate cause, of Mephastophilis's appearance. What is the ultimate cause of Mephastophilis' appearance?   
• When Mephastophilis first appears, Faustus tells him that he is "too ugly" and asks Mephastophilis to leave and return in the form of what? 
• What happens when Faustus cuts his arm to sign with blood the contract with Mephastophilis?
• The contract that Faustus signs for Mephastophilis grants Faustus how many years of supernatural power before his body and soul is to be taken by Lucifer?
• According to Mephastophilis, what is "hell"? (The footnote tells us that this is "the greatest torment of hell.")
• What does Faustus witness that is also portrayed in Book 1 of Spenser's The Faerie Queene?
• What character does Faustus play a trick on by turning invisible, snatching away this character's meal and drink, and punching his ears?  
• Faustus sells his horse to a "horse-courser" but warns him not to ride the horse in water. What happens to the horse when the horse-courser later rides the horse in water?
• What does Faustus make appear for the Duchess? 
• Near the end of his life, Faustus requests to see someone and speaks one of the best-known lines from the play when an image of this person appears: "Was this the face that launched a thousand ships." Who is this person?

Discussion Questions

1. As we find out from Mephastophilis, Faustus' black magic does not really conjure up devils, so what causes Mephastophilis to appear?

2. What is the relationship between some of the low comic scenes and the more serious parts of the play? What is the purpose of the comic scenes?

3. How does Faustus use the power he gains through his deal with Mephastophilis? What does he accomplish? How do these accomplishments contrast with Faustus' accomplishments earlier in his life, summarized by Faustus near the beginning of the play? What is the point of the differences in the accomplishments?

4. When do you think it is too late for Faustus to change his mind and to repent? Why doesn't Faustus repent?

5. How is hell portrayed in the play?

6. What is Faustus' attitude toward God, Satan, heaven, hell, and the human soul?

7. What is Faustus' motivation? What does he seem to want?

8. "Was this the face that launched a thousand ships?" Faustus asks near the end of the play as he sees a vision of Helen of Troy, traditionally regarded as the most beautiful woman ever. What does his desire to see Helen and his reaction to her tell us about Faustus?

9. While most of us have no interest in trying to conjure up devils, in what ways might we say that some people follow Faustus' path and "sell" their souls to Satan?

10. At times, Faustus struggles between accepting God and accepting Satan. How do Mephastophilis and the other devils work to keep Faustus on their side? In what ways might we see God trying to sway Faustus to his side?

11. In the last eight lines of the play, what does the Chorus say we should learn from Faustus' experience? Can you think of anything else that we might learn from the play?

12. Doctor Faustus was written during the Renaissance, a time characterized by a rebirth of Classical Greek and Roman art, culture, and thought; an emphasis on the importance and accomplishments of the individual; an emphasis on education, exploration, and discovery; and a greater focus than during the Middle Ages on the temporal world and its beauty. How might these facts influence our reaction to the play and to Doctor Faustus?

13. How is Doctor Faustus similar to and different from any books you have read or movies you have seen that involve human dealings with demonic spirits?