FACULTAD DE FILOSOFIA Y LETRASLENGUA INGLESAELIZABETHAN AND JACOBEAN LITERATUREASSIGNMENTS FOR DR. FAUSTUS PLAY.Instructor: Socorro Cristforo M.A.

WRITE THE ANSWER TO THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS AS COMPLETE AS POSSIBLE. MAKE SURE YOU GIVE SPECIFIC REFERENCES TO THE PLAY.

1. Discuss the theme of dismemberment in the play. Discuss the imagery in the play that points to this theme. Why are there so many references to dismemberment in Dr. Faustus? Who constantly threatens to tear Faustus limb from limb? Why? Does Faustus commit a type of self mutilation when he sells his soul? Why does he lose a limb and his head to the Horse-courser and the courtiers? Discuss the irony when his body is dismembered in the last scene).Dismemberment is a constant topic in the play, it is a constant menace between good and evil. Mephistopheles is in charge of reminding Faustus the deal he has with the devil, when they are signing the contract, the blood and the words consummatum est the very same words that Christ pronounce where the last words in the cross.The theme of dismemberment it doesnt only refer cut body parts, also make the reference to all the things Faustus the one who sold his soul is giving up (family, friends).Mephistopheles is the demon who threatens Faustus to dismember his body, because Faustus sometimes doubts about the deal he has with the devil.Faustus did commit a sort of self-mutilation when he makes the pact, because soul somehow is an important spiritual body part, despites that the soul doesnt belong to us.

I think that the Irony in the end will be that his human body is tearing apart, his soul will remain the same, but torture and tormented for all eternity.

2. In Act II Faustus asserts, the god thou servst is thine own appetite. Examine Marlowes use of hunger and cravings. Consider the scene with the Seven Deadly Sins as well as the scene with the pregnant Duchess of Vanholt. What exactly does Faustus crave at the start of the play? Do his appetites change or grow as the play progresses? Is his hunger ever satiated? What comment might Marlowe be making about the nature of desire?Marlowe use temptation we can see this in the second act where Lucifer and Beelzebub award Faustus with a show with the seven deadly sins and all the things they can granted if he decides to sell his soul.At the beginning of the play Faustus begins to consider his knowledge. He has nothing else to learn and craves for knowledge; he is attracted to what is unknown, and he wants unlimited knowledge.Faustus appetites do not end with knowledge he also wants recognition, and starts craving power, glory, famous and reputation.Everything has a consequence; I think that would be the message Marlowe is trying to say that desire is the motivation to reach our goals, but every means has an end, be careful with what you desire.

3. In The Poetics Aristotle defines a tragic hero as a character who occupies a high status orposition and embodies nobility and virtue as part of his innate character. While great, thetragic hero is not perfect and is therefore able to appear sympathetic to mortal audiences. Due to this imperfection or flaw (hamartia), which is often pride or arrogance (hubris), the heros downfall is somewhat his own fault, the result of free will rather than fate. However, the heros fall is not completely fair because the punishment exceeds the crime. Prior to his end, the tragic hero experiences a sense of self discovery and sorrow for his flaw and for the outcomes it has produced.Is Dr. Faustus a tragic hero? If not, which parts of the definition fit him and which do not? If he is not a tragic hero, how can he be classified? A heroic humanist? Can a man who sells his soul be considered a hero of any sort? Is he a villain? Explain your answer.No I dont think he is a tragic hero. I would classified him as an anti hero.I dont think selling your soul is part of a heroic act, because first of all Faustus sold the only thing, you can take with you; you are condemning for eternity.At the end of life the only thing that we must have for sure is that sinning is not for free everybody has a trial and you cant escape from it.

NOTE: The answers to these questions must be typed and turned in on Tuesday, march 18, 2014