Doctor Faustus - Act 1, Scene 3 Flashcards
1
Q
“Gloomy shadow” / “drizzling look” / “Antarctic world”
A
-Motif of darkness and cold
- Symbolic of Faustus’ transgression being unnatural and blasphemous
2
Q
“Begin thine incantations”
A
- Imperative : being consumed by evil
- Contemporaneous at the time due to fear of witchcraft and necromancy
3
Q
“Magic can perform”
A
- Metaphor : presents magic as performative and entertainment
- Highlights the superficial nature and lack of meaning
4
Q
“I charge thee”
A
- Imperative : dismissive of Mephistopheles
- Emphasises the foolishness of Faustus
- Inability to perceive his own status
- Anaphoric repetition highlights his ignorance
5
Q
“Thou art too ugly to attend on me”
A
- Highlights Faustus’ superficiality
- Mocking of physical appearance which undermines his studies
- Facetious nature and comedic
6
Q
“Old Franciscan Friar”
A
- Uses trope to mock the church
- Highlights the anti-catholic sentiment : corruption
- Imperatives used beforehand to command Mephistopheles, misunderstanding of power dynamic
7
Q
“There’s virtue in my heavenly words”
A
- Ironic metaphor : presents the foolishness of Faustus.
- Despite having transgressed still sees himself as omnipotent and holy
8
Q
“[exit devil]”
A
- The staging immediately emphasises his corrupt nature
9
Q
“How pliant is this Mephistopheles”
A
- Irony : failure to recognise the corrupt force of Mephistopheles
- Highlights Faustus’ foolishness and the hubristic nature of undermining him
- “pliant” : flexible and obedient to Faustus’ will
10
Q
[“Enter MEPHISTOPHELES disguised as a friar]”
A
- Staging indicates the facetiousness of Mephistopheles
- Proleptic Irony : bends to Faustus’ will
11
Q
“I am servant to great Lucifer”
A
- Power dynamic emphasises humility : status of Mephistopheles is undermined
- Subservient to Faustus : still very powerful
- Contrasts Faustus who has servants of his own
12
Q
“I came now hither of mine own accord”
A
- Juxtaposition : creates uncertainty surrounding the power of Mephistopheles
- Highlights Faustus’ ignorance for undermining him despite his power
13
Q
“Speak”
A
- Imperative : highlights arrogance of Faustus trying to act powerful
- Comedic / bathos
- Overlooks the power of Mephistopheles at face value (hubristic)
14
Q
“For when we hear one rack the name of God” / “We fly in hope to get his glorious soul”
A
- Acts as a warning, presents Mephistopheles as honest
- Provides reasoning for his arrival as Faustus asked : outlines Faustus’ fate (Proleptic irony)
15
Q
“Pray devoutly to the prince of hell”
A
- Imperative : rejection of Christ to swap deity to Lucifer
- “Prince” undermines the power of hell potentially highlighting the mistake he will make. Not king. emphasises a lack of superiority.
- Highlights the foolish nature of Faustus
