Dr. Faustus
Study Guide
Prologue
Vocabulary
dalliance – amorous play
audacious – daring or bold
vaunt – to make a vain display of one’s own worth or attainments
necromancy – conjuring of the spirits of the dead for purposes of magically revealing the
future or influencing the course of events
1. Who introduces the story of Dr. Faustus?
2. Where was Faustus born?
3. Where did Faustus attend school?
4. What did Faustus achieve while at Wittenberg?
5. To which character in mythology is Faustus compared in the prologue? What is the
meaning of the allusion?
6. What does Dr. Faustus wish to study now that he is such an intelligent man?
Scene I
Vocabulary
maxim – a general truth
mercenary – serving merely for pay or gain
drudge – to do hard, menial, or monotonous work
servile – befitting a slave or servant
illiberal – bigoted
metaphysics – the philosophical study of the ultimate causes and underlying nature of things
necromantic – a person who studies sorcery
omnipotence – having unlimited power or authority
artisan – a craftsman
1. At the beginning of the scene, as Faustus is talking to himself, what philosophical
question does he raise?
2. Citing a line from the text, support whether or not Faustus believes he has attained
enough knowledge.
3. After the study of philosophy, what discipline does Faustus explore next and what does
he believe a person will gain through the study of this discipline?
4. As he contemplates the benefits of being a physician, Faustus also mentions drawbacks.
What does he believe are the limitations of being a physician?
5. What two things does Faustus believe would make a physician’s profession more
esteemed?
6. After finding limitations in the study of philosophy and physics, what disciplines does
Faustus pursue?
7. What type of person does Faustus seem to be as he wades through and discards various
academic studies?
8. What does Faustus believe is the greatest study? Cite a line from the play that supports
your answer.
9. In divinity, with what does Faustus disagree?
10. What does Faustus decide he wants to study and why?
11. To what does Faustus compare a student of necromancy? Cite the line from the text to support your answer.
12. To whom does Faustus beckon and what does he request?
13. Why does Faustus wish to see these two people?
14. At this point in the play, the Good Angel and the Bad Angel enter the scene. What is the significance of their entrance and what do they offer to Faustus?
15. In the list of ideas that Faustus has for what the study of necromancy can bring to him,
cite three things that are of a selfish nature and three that are of a more benevolent nature.
16. What does Faustus say to Valdes and Cornelius that leads the reader to believe that these two people have spoken to Faustus previously about studying necromancy?
17. As Faustus lists his reasons for studying necromancy, what does he say about divinity?
Why do you think he feels so strongly against the study of divinity?
18. Valdes believes they will be famous if they are resolute in their study. How does Faustus convince him that he is willing to proceed in the study of “black magic” and that he will not waiver?
19. Why do you think Valdes says to Faustus, “First I’ll intruct thee in the rudiments./And
then wilt thou be perfecter than I”?(Pg. 8)
Scene II
Vocabulary
licentiate – one who has a license granted especially by a university to practice a profession
phlegmatic – having or showing a slow and stolid temperament
lechery – overindulgence in sexual activity
1. What is the purpose of the beginning interchange between Wagner and the two scholars? In what is Wagner engaging the two scholars?
2. What do the two scholars conclude about Faustus when Wagner tells them with whom
Faustus is dining? Why do they make this conclusion? Cite evidence from the text to
support your answer.
3. What action do the two scholars plan to take in order to save Faustus?
4. Do the two scholars believe that Faustus can be saved? How does the reader know?
Scene III
Vocabulary
welkin – the vault of heaven
pitchy – dark
hest – command
anagrammatis’d – transposed
propitious – being of good omen
abjure – to renounce under oath
1. What does Faustus attempt to do at the beginning of the scene?
2. What is ironic about the way in which Faustus conjures Mephistophilis?
3. In what form does Mephistophilis first appear, and how does Faustus respond?
4. In what form does Mephistophilis return, and what does this change indicate to Faustus?
5. Describe the request Faustus first makes to Mephistophilis and Mephistophilis’ answer
to that request.
6. What allows Mephistophilis to appear to Faustus?
7. What reason does Mephistophilis give for why he comes to meet Faustus?
8. What does Faustus indicate to Mephistophilis that he is willing to do, and what is the
significance of his statement?
9. About what does Faustus question Mephistophilis? What is Mephistophilis’ explanation?
10. How does Mephistophilis feel about being damned?
11. What does Faustus request of Mephistophilis and how long does he want this privilege?
12. When will Faustus and Mephistophilis meet again?
13. In Faustus’ last speech before the end of the scene, he states, “Now that I have obtain’d what I desire/I’ll live in speculation of this art/Till Mephistophilis return again.”
Has Faustus gained anything as of yet? Why is he so assured that he has?
Scene IV
Vocabulary
diametrically – contradicting to a person’s claims
fustian – pompous, pretentious talk or writing
1. At the beginning of the scene, what observation does Wagner make about the clown he
sees in the street?
2. At the beginning of the scene, what does Wagner want the clown to do?
3. What is the clown’s response to Wagner’s questions?
4. With whom does Wagner threaten the clown? How does the clown respond?
5. How does the clown really feel about the devils, and how does the reader know his
reaction?
6. Compare this scene with the previous scene in which Faustus agrees to sell his soul to
the devil in order to gain power.
Scene V
Vocabulary
execrable – detestable
contrition – repentance
signiory – the territory over which a lord holds jurisdiction
bequeath – to leave property to another
wanton – sexually loose
lascivious – lustful
cull – to pick out from a group
courtesans – prostitutes
1. In the beginning of the scene, Faustus is wavering between his loyalty to God and his
decision to sell his soul to Lucifer. He states, “Why waverest thou? O, something
soundeth in mine ears/’Abjure this magic, turn to God again!’ Ay, and Faustus will turn
to God again.” Immediately after he questions his desire, Faustus again denounces God and affirms to Lucifer his desires. Characterize the tone of what Faustus says at the end of his introductory speech. How do you feel about Faustus’ descision to forsake God? Is the decision abrupt? Why or why not?
2. In a morality play, the main character is to be representative of every man. In Doctor
Faustus, does Dr. Faustus represent every man? Would “normal” people, who appear to
have everything (knowledge, respect, and wealth), be willing to give it all up for the
uncertainty of the future of their souls or for evil?
3. What is the purpose of Faustus’ speech at the beginning of the scene? Does the purpose
of the scene make him more or less like “every man”? Why or why not?
4. What is the argument between the Good Angel and the Evil Angel?
5. Use the following line from the play to determine the sin that Faustus is demonstrating.
“Why, the signiory of Emden shall be mine.”
6. Faustus states, “What God can hurt thee, Faustus? Thou art safe.” (Pg. 20) What is the
danger in believing that God cannot hurt him and using that as an argument to continue along the path that he chooses?
7. What condition does Lucifer present to Faustus in order to have Mephistophilis serve
him?
8. What larger question is Faustus asking when he asks Mephistophilis why Lucifer wants
his soul?
9. In the two statements that Mephistophilis offers to Faustus as the explanation for why
Lucifer wants his soul, what contradiction does he make?
10. When Faustus’ blood begins to clot as he is writing the deed in blood, he believes that it might be a sign reflecting on the nature of what he is doing. Explain the symbolism in the blood clotting and the deed that he is writing.
11. Explain the irony in Faustus’ statement, “Is not thy soul thine own?”
12. Speculate as to why Marlowe chooses to have Mephistophilis bring fire to warm Faustus’ blood when Faustus cannot finish writing the deed.
13. Before Faustus gives the deed to Mephistophilis to take to Lucifer, what does Faust
request and why?
14. After Faustus gives the deed to Mephistophilis, what is the first thing Faustus asks? Why does he ask this question?
15. How does Mephistophilis describe Hell? Cite the passage. State the significance of the
answer.
16. What does the reader learn about the reason Faustus agrees to sign his soul to the Devil? How is this different from the original reason Faustus gives? What does Faustus overlook as he makes his observation about Hell?
17. What does Faustus ask for next? How does Mephistophilis respond? What does he bring Faustus?
18. How does Faustus respond to the woman that Mephistophilis brings him?
19. What does Mephistophilis bring Faustus? Make a list of the books that Faustus would
like to have.
Scene VI
Vocabulary
empyreal – celestial
firmament – the sky
rapier – a sword with a narrow, pointed blade
1. What reasons does Mephistophilis give Faustus to support the claim that heaven is not
“such a glorious thing” ?What response does Faustus give to this?
2. After his encounter with the Good Angel and Evil Angel, why does Faustus state that he will never repent?
3. Why does Lucifer, accompanied by Belzebub and Mephistophilis, come to visit Faustus?
Briefly describe the encounter.
4. Name the Seven Deadly Sins.
Scene VII
Vocabulary
dirge – a song of sorrow
1. Who does Faustus see in this scene and where does he see him? What practical jokes
does Faustus play?
2. How is Faustus’ behavior different now, as represented by the practical jokes he plays at
the Papal Court, than it was before? Before Faustus is given these magical powers, how
would he have treated the Pope?
3. What does the behavior of Faustus and Mephistophilis demonstrate?
4. What does the chorus tell us happens when Faustus returns?
5. What is the purpose of the chorus?
Scene VIII
1. Who are Robin and Rafe?
2. What has Robin done? Why?
3. Why are Robin and Rafe included in this section?
4. List the basic tricks that Robin can perform now that he is knowledgeable in black magic.
Scene IX
Vocabulary
potentates – rulers
vintner – a dealer in wines
1. How does the beginning of this scene continue the theme from the previous scene?
2. To what does Mephistophilis change Robin and Rafe?
Scene X
Vocabulary
requited –avenged
injurious – abusive
paramour –lover
pre-eminence – outstanding
execrable – detestable
entreaty – an earnest request
penance – an act performed to show sorrow or repentance for sin
1. Of what does the Emperor question Faustus and what does the Emperor request?
2. What is Faustus’ response?
3. What information does the Emperor wish to possess? Who does he specifically mention?
4. What is the purpose of the knight’s asides?
5. Is Faustus able to complete the Emperor’s request? Why or why not?
6. Faustus becomes angry with the knight and plays a trick on him so that the knight will
have horns on his head. What is Faustus’ explanation for why he changes the knight?
7. What does the Emperor request of Faustus? How does the reader know that the Emperor respects Faustus?
Scene XI
Vocabulary
purgation – the result of purging
1. What does Faustus realize at the beginning of the scene?
2. Who does Faustus meet on the road? What does this person want?
3. How is Faustus finally convinced to sell his horse?
4. Under what condition does Faustus sell the horse?
5. What is the tone of Faustus’ response to the horse-courser when the horse-courser asks
him to diagnose problems in the horse?
6. Why is Faustus so upset when he thinks about the end of the twenty-four years when
before he did not even believe that there was a Hell?
7. Why does the horse-courser return?
8. Mephistophilis refuses to let the horse-courser disturb Faustus. Why?
9. What does the horse-courser do?
10. Where do Mephistophilis and Faustus go at the end of the scene?
Scene XII
1. How does the Duke of Vanholt feel about Faustus’ activities?
2. Characterize the Duchess using only Faustus’ line, “My gracious lord, I am glad it
contents you so well. —But it may be, madam, you take no delight in this. I have heard
that great-bellied women do long for some dainties or other. What is it, madam? Tell me,
and you shall have it.”
3. What does the Duchess request? Why?
4. How does Faustus explain being able to get the grapes?
5. How is Faustus to be rewarded? Why is this ironic?
Scene XIII
Vocabulary
carouse – to drink and have fun
swill – to drink greedily
paragon – a model of perfection or excellence
flagitious – grossly wicked
heinous – shockingly evil
glut – to fill to excess
1. What conclusion is Wagner making about Faustus based on Faustus’ actions? Why does
he believe Faustus’ behavior is contradictory to his own conclusion?
2. Why do the scholars wish to see Helen of Troy?
3. How do the people feel about Faustus after he has performed for them?
4. What is the purpose of the Old Man in this scene? Who does the Old Man replace from
the first scenes?
5. How does Faustus initially respond to the Old Man’s pleading?
6. What does Mephistophilis give Faustus?
7. How does the Old Man try to persuade Faustus from using the dagger?
8. How does Faustus react?
9. Does the Old Man believe that Faustus will be saved? Cite support for your answer.
10. When Faustus repents, how does Mephistophilis respond?
11. What does Faustus request from Mephistophilis and what does Faustus do?
12. When Mephistophilis says, “His faith is great…,” what is he implying about Faustus faith?
13. What does Faustus need to have in order to affirm his vow to Lucifer?
14. Who returns to visit Faustus and what does he say?
Scene XIV
Vocabulary
surfeit – an overabundant supply
felicity – happiness
ireful – full of anger
metempsychosis – the passing of the soul at death into another person or animal
1. How has Faustus’ demeanor changed?
2. What type of cures do the scholars offer to Faustus?
3. Does Faustus believe what the scholars tell him?
4. Why is Faustus unable to repent?
5. How do the scholars feel they could have saved Faustus?
6. What does Faustus realize about being damned and what does he wish for instead?
7. What is the final result of Faustus’ deed with Lucifer?
8. What is the purpose of having the chorus end the play?