Doctor Faustus - Act 1, Scence 4

Question 1

“He would give his soul to the devil for a shoulder of mutton”

Answer 1

• Structural parallel to Faustus futile deal : emphasises foolish nature, highlights bathos
• Slapstick comedy

Question 2

“Wilt thou serve me, and I’ll make thee go like Qui mini discipulus”

Answer 2

• Wagner foils Faustus highlighting his desire for power and authority
• Imperatives emphasise desire for power
• Highlights foolishness for Faustus

Question 3

“I’ll turn all the lice about thee into familiars”

Answer 3

• Empty threat emphasises the foolish and pointless nature of necromancy
• Undermines its power
• Ineffective

Question 4

“Be diametarily fixed upon my right heel with quasi vestigiis nostrils insistere”

Answer 4

• Imperative : attempts to be intelligent
• Impressive however irony is created as Robin doesn’t understand due to a lack of education

Question 5

“tickle the pretty wenches plackets”

Answer 5

• Metaphor : highlights Faustus’ future base desires
• Crude