Act I Flashcards
(52 cards)
1,1 summary
speaking in soliloquy, faustus weighs up the merits and limitations of the four key academic disciples
what are the four key academic disciples?
philosophy, law, medicine, and divinity
what does Faustus decide about the four academic disciples?
that they are flawed and that the power and knowledge they offer is limited
why does Marlowe have Faustus repeat the word ‘end’ when considering the traditional academic disciples? 1,1
to show how knowledge is finite. could link to the renaissance and the rebirth of intellectual discovery and curiosity and the rejection of medieval ideas
‘is to dispute well, logics chiefest ____’ 1,1
end
‘thou hast attainted that ___’ 1,1
end
‘and live and die in __________ works’ 1,1
Aristotle
‘tis thou has _______ me’ 1,1
ravished
why did Marlowe describe Faustus as being ‘ravished’ by Aristotles works? 1,1
Faustus casts himself as the subordinate and submissive, suggesting that magic and necromancy have taken him. sexual connotations may link to his base desires
‘what world of _______ and _______’ 1,1
profit, delight
‘of power, of honour, of ____________’ 1,1
omnipotence
by having Faustus finish the line on omnipotence, what does this suggest about his feelings towards necromancy? 1,1
he lusts for the power it will give him, he wants to be god-like
In 1,1 Marlowe reference prominent figures, e.g. Aristotle and Galen, before having Faustus reject their ideas. What does this create?
A sense of arrogance is established from the start, foreshadowing Faustus’ downfall. Faustus is resented as a radical, renaissance thinker.
Where does Faustus misquote the bible?
‘the reward of sin is death. that’s hard.’ 1,1
why does Faustus misquote the bible in 1,1?
mockery of the church. shows Faustus to be foolish and naive as he attempts to manipulate Gods word to suit his needs.
Context - the renaissance
rebirth of intellectual discovery. disciplines of the previous medieval period were questioned
‘necromantic books are _________’ 1,1
heavenly
what technique is used in ‘necromantic books are heavenly’? And what does it show about Faustus’ attitude to black magic? 1,1
antithesis. he worships it because of the power it could give. blasphemous and heretic language contrast with heavily religious ideas of a contemporary audience
what does the last two lines of Faustus’ soliloquy in 1,1 end in?
‘god’ and ‘deity’
why does Faustus’ soliloquy in 1,1 end in ‘god’ and ‘deity’?
shows how Faustus wants to use necromancy to gain power that is similar to God.
Context - Dr John Dee
well respected scholar who served as royal advisor and court astronomer to Elizabeth I. he left the queens service and went on a quest for more powerful knowledge in the realms of magic and the supernatural
what are the good and evil angels?
stop characters of morality plays
what does the good and evil angel represent?
Faustus’ inner conflict
‘heap Gods heavy ______ upon the head’ 1,1
wrath
