Module 3

Dr. Faustus (short answers)

--- By Christopher Marlowe

1. Who introduced the prologue of Doctor Faustus?

The chorus, a singer, introduced the prologue of Dr. Faustus,

whose main purpose is to help the development of the play
by making appropriate comments on the action and
characters of the play.

2. what did the chorus assure after delivering the prologue?

After delivering the prologue, the chorus assured the

audience that this particular play is not about a king or
heroes of Greek antiquity; instead, the play's subject
matter will be limited to "the shape of Faustus' (an ordinary
man) fortunes, good or bad."

3. Why did the chorus compare Faustus to Icarus?

Icarus was a minor character from Greek mythology who

did not heed his father's warning and flew too close to the
sun, causing his wings to melt and sending him to
plunging to his death. In the same way, the chorus tells
us, Faustus will “mount above his reach” through magical
arts and suffer the same fate.

4. What did Dr. Faustus study at the university of Wittenberg,

Germany?
 Philosophy and theology.

5. Why did Faustus reject the study of logic, medicine, law, and
theology?

He rejected logic because he had already mastered its chiefest

end; he rejected medicine because even an excellent doctor
can’t make men live forever or rise from death; he rejected law
because it is suitable only to a man who is keen on making
money; he rejected divinity because sin is unavoidable and thus
eternal death must be inevitable. As a result, he chose
necromancy and demonology, through which he could obtain
immense power and profit.

6. Who brings Valdes and Cornelius (the two magician friends of

Faustus)?

Wagner (servant of Faustus).

7. What were the suggestions of the good and bad angels when they
first appeared to Faustus?
The Good Angel begs Faustus not to be tempted by the dark
arts and to read Scripture instead, in order to avoid blasphemy
and damnation. The Bad Angel encourages him to go
forward with it because doing so will make him like the
god Zeus, the master of all elements in the world.

8. After being convinced by the Evil Angel, what were the

wondrous things that Faustus wanted to accomplish with the
help of magical power?
 After being convinced by the evil angel, Faustus in his
soliloquy thought that through the art of black magic he will
send his demon servants to bring pleasant fruits and
princely delicate, to bring gold from India, to search oceans
for pearls, to explore each corner of the new-found world, to
get the secrets and “strange philosophy”, to know the
secrets of all foreign kings; with their help, he will build a
wall of brass around all Germany, and even changing the
course of the Rhine for the benefit of Germany. Moreover,
with the help of those demon servants, he will fill the public
school with silk, levy armies with the money (which his
servants will bring), drive the prince of Parma from his
territory, and eventually reign as the single ruler of all the
provinces. He also imagined the scene where his servant
spirits invented war weapons to rival the burning ship that
Dutch forces sent against the Parmese blockade of the
Belgian port city of Antwerp.

9. To what things had Vlades equated the power of spirits?

Valdes had compared the powers of spirits to Spanish lords,
lions, German cavalrymen, giants, eyebrows of beautiful
unmarried women, massive argosies of Venice, and golden
fleece of America that annually fills old Philip's treasury.
10. What temptation did Cornelius give to Faustus regarding
the power of magic?
Cornelius informs Faustus that he possesses all the knowled
ge of minerals, languages, and astrology necessary to excel i
n the dark arts and acquire inexhaustible wealth. This
description made Faustus believe that this riddle will make
him more popular than the Delphian oracle.
11. What things Cornelius informed Faustus to carry
when Faustus first wished to see a demo of magic?
 Cornelius informed Faustus to go to a quiet grove and
carry the writings of Bacon and Albertus, the
Hebrew Psalter, and the New Testament.

12. What did Cornelius instruct Valdes to do when

Faustus wanted to practise black magic for the first time?
He instructed Valdes to teach him the language of the
arts first, then all other rituals.

13. why did Dr. Faustus ask Mephistophilis to change into a

Franciscan friar?
Faustus ordered Mephistophilis to reappear as a
Franciscan friar because he was afraid of his real avatar.
This particular appearance satirises the religious
order, which had been the subject of various literary
attacks since the times of Chaucer, as well as also
symbolizes the sign of Renaissance individualism.

14. What did Faustus instruct mephistophilis to do when he

reappeared? What mephistophilis replied?

Faustus instructed Mephistophilis to wait for him as long as he

is alive and to carry out his orders. But mephistophilis replied I
serve the almighty Lucifer, and I cannot follow you without his
permission

15. According to mephistophilis when do devils appear?

According to Mephistophilis, when devils hear someone deny
God, the Bible, and his Son, Jesus, they run, hoping to win their
precious souls.
16. What descriptions did Mephestophilis give to Faustus
regarding lucifer?
Mephastophilis explains that Lucifer and other angels
were expelled from heaven for their pride and
insolence. According to him, Hell follows them; it is a state
of mind rather than a literal place. Later, He begs Faustus to
stop questioning him, since the memory of being cast out of
heaven is painful, and Faustus cruelly mocks him for his misery.

17. What deal did Dr. Faustus propose to lucifer through

Mephistophilis?
Faustus will give Lucifer his soul in return for 24 years
with Mephastophilis as his servant.

18. What were the things that Faustus wanted to do

after making the deal via Mephistophilis?

He will join the hills that connect the African coast,

making that continent connected to Spain. Moreover,
he will rule the world as a great emperor via him
(Mephastophilis) and build a bridge over the ocean
while the air is moving. The emperor or any potentate of
Germany will only survive with his permission.

19. According to the clown when he will be ready to sell

his soul to the devil?
Clown responds that he would only sell his soul for a cooked
shoulder of mutton with a good sauce.
20. For how many years Wagner wanted to make the
clown his slave?
Wagner threatens to turn all of his lice into demons if he
doesn't go into service for him for seven years.

21. What did Mephistophilis reply when Faustus inquired

what good his soul will bring to your lucifer?
Mephastophilis informs him that Lucifer seeks to enlarge his
kingdom and make others suffer as he does.

22. What words were written on Faustus’ arm after signing

the contract?
The Words Homo Fuge (Latin For “Flee, Man”).

23. When Faustus' blood congeals after cutting his arm,

what material was Mephistophilis re-entered with?
chafer of fire (hot coal used to turn solid blood into liquid
blood).

24. What was written on the agreement given to Faustus by

Mephistophilis?
First, Faustus might actually be a spirit.
Second, he will command Mephistophilis and make him his
servant.
Thirdly, Mephistophilis will fulfill his requests and bring
him whatever he wants.
 Fourthly, Mephistophilis will be invisible inside his home or
chamber.
Finally, he makes a commitment in front of the
aforementioned John Faustus to always assume the form
of his choice.

25. What description of hell Mephistophilis gave to Faustus?

Mephastophilis answers that hell has no limits and in fact,
it is everywhere wherever devils are. Mephastophilis
further says that he himself is proof of hell's existence
since he is damned and in hell. In summary, all areas that
are not heaven will be hell where the planet dissolves and
every creature is purified.

26. What was Faustus’ second wish after signing the

contract?
His second wish was to get the most beautiful maid in
Germany. As a result of which Mephistophilis brings a devil
in women's clothing, which Faustus angrily rejects. I'll
choose the prettiest courtesans for you and bring them to
your bed every morning. Here, Mephistophilis promised
him to bring a woman as pure as Penelope, as smart as
Saba, or as attractive as the radiant Lucifer.

27. What were the different spells that were written in the
magic book given to Faustus by Mephistophilis?
Mephastophilis gives Faustus a book filled with magic spells.
He tells Faustus that the book contains spells to raise spirits, as well
as knowledge of the planets, the heavens, and all plants, herbs, and
trees. But the mention of the heavens causes Faustus to think about
renouncing the black magic.

28. According to Mephastophilis there are how many heavens?

Nine; the firmament, the empyreal heaven, and the seven 
planets.

29. What did Mephastophilis reply when Faustus

inquired about coelum igneum et crystallinum (a heaven of
fire and a crystalline sphere)?

It’s a myth.

30. What did Mephastophilis reply when Faustus asked

who made the universe?
Mephastophilis refuses to answer, saying that giving the
answer would be “against our kingdom,”.
31. What Faustus did do when he first listened to the good
angel?
Faustus cries out for Christ to save his soul. But at Faustus'
invocation of Christ, Mephastophilis appears with Lucifer and
Belzebub (another devil). Lucifer tells Faustus that Christ cannot
save him and that his talk of Christ “injures” the devils. He tells
Faustus not to think of God, but rather of the devil, with whom he
has made his agreement. As a result, Faustus vows not to speak of
God or heaven anymore.
32. Why did lucifer come to Faustus?
Lucifer announces that he has come to show Faustus the Seven
Deadly Sins “in their proper shapes. The sins are Pride, Covetousness,
Wrath, Envy, Gluttony, Sloth, and Lechery.
Pride-
o hate having parents
o He is like Ovid’s flea
o can creep into every corner of a girl
o sometimes sit on a girl’s eyebrow
o hang around her neck like a necklace
o kiss the girl’s lips like a fan of the feature
o sometimes turn himself into smock
o will not speak a word even for king’s ransom until the
ground is perfumed and covered with arras cloth.

Covetousness-
 born of an old churl, in a leather bag
 his wish is to turn Faustus into gold so that he can
lock him into his cheat
Envy-
 the offspring of an oyster wife and a chimney sweep
 wish that all books were destroyed since he is unable to
read. When he sees other people eat, he gets hungry.
 He wishes for a worldwide famine
Wrath-
  born in hell without a father or mother and jumped out
of the maw of a lion when he was barely an hour old.
 Since then, he has been running across the world with
this case of rapiers (sword), injuring himself when I
couldn't find anyone else to fight with.
 He proclaimed that one day some of you will grow up to
be my parents.

Gluttony-
 his parents are all deceased
 and the only thing they left for him was a meagre
pension, which he can use to buy himself thirty meals
per day and ten beers—a small trifle
 he also urged Faustus for dinner

sloth-
 born on a bright bank
 If you pay me a king's ransom, I won't say anything else.
Lechery-
 someone who prefers an inch of raw mutton over an
ell of fried stockfish

33. who stole Faustus’ magic books?

A stable hand named Robin enters and announces that he has
stolen one of Faustus' conjuring books.

34. Faustus has ridden in a chariot drawn by dragons

through the sky to learn the secrets of astronomy.
35. According to Wagner where Faustus will first go
through the chariot drawn by dragons?

will first travel to Rome to meet the Pope and his court.

36. What tricks did Faustus and Mephistophilis play

with the Pope?
The pope enters with a cardinal and some friars, ready to
eat at a banquet. Faustus and Mephistophilis, invisible,
curse loudly and snatch dishes from the table. The pope
and the friars think that a ghost is harassing them. The
pope crosses himself, and the friars sing a dirge to drive
the spirit away. Faustus and mephastophilis beat the friars,
fling fireworks everywhere, and then leave.

37. Who interrupted Robin and Rafe while using Faustus'

book?
A vintner (wine merchant).

38. What threat did mephastophilis give to Robin and

Rafe when they used Faustus’s book?
To turn into animals and leaves.

39. As word of his knowledge has spread, Faustus has

now been invited to feast with the German Emperor
Charles V. At the court of the emperor, Charles V eagerly
 asks Faustus to prove his skills in magic. There a knight
Benvolio offers a critical point of view on Faustus' sinful
magic. Faustus agrees and the emperor asks him to bring
forth the spirit of Alexander the Great since the emperor
greatly admires the famous conqueror. The skeptical
knight doesn't believe that Faustus can bring Alexander
forth, and leaves, not wanting to be present for the
conjuring. Faustus, then, brings the spirits of Alexander
and Alexander's paramour as well as his rival Darius, king
of Persia, to whom he later kills. The emperor examines
the spirits and remarks that he thinks they are the true
bodies of Alexander and his lover.
40. Faustus asks for the emperor to call the skeptical
knight back to court. The knight re-enters and now
has horns on his head, the result of a curse from
Faustus in return for his rudeness. The emperor asks
Faustus to take the horns away; Faustus relents. The
emperor promises Faustus a reward for his display of
magic, before leaving. Faustus. Then, at the
emperor's request, Faustus releases the knight from
the spell and the horns are removed. Faustus tells
Mephastophilis that he wants to return to
Wittenberg.
41. But as per text B, Benvolio hatches a plan to
assassinate Faustus after becoming enraged by his
practical joke. Frederick and Martino grudgingly
agree to lend a hand. They conceal themselves to
 surprise Faustus, not realising that he will deceive
them by wearing a false (prosthetic) head. After
beheading Faustus, Benvolio rejoices in his
accomplishment. Later, When the three guys find
that Faustus is still alive, they have a plan to deform
the head. But, Benvolio, Frederick, and Martino are
tormented and given horns on their heads as
punishment from Faustus for their attempted
ambush.

42. Back in Wittenberg, Faustus meets with a horse courser

(horse trader) and sells him his horse. He warns the trader
not to ride the horse into the water. But he had ridden the
horse out into the middle of a pond (thinking that Faustus'
warning was an attempt to hide some magic skill of the
horse), at which point the horse turned into a pile of hay
and he fell into the water. The horse-courser shouts in
Faustus' ear and pulls on his leg to wake him. Faustus' leg
comes off, and the shocked horse-courser flees. Faustus'
leg is instantly restored, and he laughs at the horse
courser.

43. In the meanwhile, Wagner arrives to tell Faustus that his

company is requested by the Duke of Vanholt, an honourable
gentleman. The Duke and Duchess of Vanholt entertain
Faustus (and Mephastophilis) at court. The duchess e asks
him to make a plate of grapes appear since it is the middle
of winter (and grapes are only available in the
 summer).when the duke inquired about the grapes,
Faustus replied that when it is winter in Germany, it is
summer in opposite parts of the globe.

44. Faustus must be close to passing away, Wagner muses

aloud to the audience since he has given Wagner all of his
assets. Faustus is eating, drinking, and having a good time,
which to Wagner does not seem like the conduct of
someone who is about to die. This has Wagner perplexed.

45. SCENE 12- One of them asks Faustus to conjure up

Helen, the mythical Greek woman who was supposedly the
most beautiful woman in the world. Faustus summons her.
An old man enters and tries to attempt Faustus to repent.
The old man plays a similar role to that of the Good Angel,
urging Faustus to repent and telling him that redemption is
still possible. Faustus is enraged and shouts that he is
damned and ought to die. Mephastophilis gives Faustus a
dagger. The old man says he sees an angel over Faustus'
head, offering him mercy. Faustus tells the man to leave
him so he can think about his sins. Faustus says he wants
to repent. In response, Mephastophilis calls him a traitor
and threatens to “Tear thine flesh in pieces”. Faustus
apologizes and says he will re-confirm his vow to Lucifer.
Faustus tells Mephastophilis to torment the old man for
making him doubt his bargain, and then asks him to make
Helen his lover. Helen appears and Faustus begs for her
kiss, asking her to “give me my soul again. The old man re-
 enters and as a result a group of devils appear to torment
the old man.
46. Faustus enters with the scholars from earlier. Faustus
laments his sins, and the scholars tell him to seek God's
mercy. But Faustus answers that God cannot pardon him.
The scholars leave to go pray for Faustus. The clock strikes
eleven and Faustus realizes he has one hour left to live.
Faustus cries out and begs time to stand still and for the
day not to end. Faustus cries to God for help, but at the
name of God he feels pain in his heart (because he has
given Lucifer his soul). He begs Lucifer to spare him, then
asks the earth to gape open and save him from hell. He
asks the stars to carry him up to the sky. The clock rings
out: Faustus has half an hour left. He begs God for
forgiveness and requests to spend a thousand or a
hundred thousand years in hell before being saved, as
opposed to being tormented for all eternity. He curses
Lucifer and himself. Midnight comes, and Faustus despairs.
Devils enter and carry Faustus off as he continues to cry
out, promising to burn his books.