Faustus 5.1 | Old Man + Helen Of Troy

Question 1

Old man + Helen of Troy

Answer 1

Old man reflects medieval values of religious devotion and blasphemy of sin

Helen of Troy reflects renaissance interest in the classical world and celebration of beauty and individual desire

Question 2

“Guide thy steps unto the way of life” (old man)

Answer 2

metaphor suggests Old man can offer Faustus a chance back to God’s loving embrace and away from blasphemy

Question 3

“Break heart, drop blood and mingle it with tears” (old man)

Answer 3

triplet of verbs suggests repentance must be defined by action not just words. Faustus must suffer to gain forgiveness

Question 4

“Whose blood alone must wash away thy guilt” (old man)

Answer 4

Image of blood symbolises christs love for humanity and the promise of eternal life. Re-signing the blood contract = deep blasphemous act

Question 5

“Fairer than the evening air” // “brighter art thou than flaming Jupiter” // “more lovely than the monarch of the sky”

Answer 5

Comparative adjectives convey how Faustus sees Helen as representing an unparalleled form of beauty

Question 6

“This the face that launched a thousand ships and burnt the topless towers of ilium”

Answer 6

imagery of war + destruction convey Helen’s beauty brings danger

Question 7

“Brighter art thou than flaming Jupiter when he appeared to hapless Semele”

Answer 7

(A figure from Greek mythology) Semele, wished to see the wonder of Jupiter but was overwhelmed and burned by his blazing presence

Question 8

“Her lips suck forth my soul”

Answer 8

Faustus seems to realise the blasphemous nature of Helen, yet this sexualised image suggests his listfuk desires have “overtaken him” - a moment of peripeteia