1. Who is the author of Doctor Faustus?

Christopher Marlowe is the author of Doctor Faustus.

2. What is the main theme of Doctor Faustus?

The main theme is the conflict between good and evil, focusing on the dangers of ambition and the
consequences of seeking knowledge and power beyond human limits.

3. What is Faustus' main ambition?

Faustus' main ambition is to gain limitless knowledge and power by practicing necromancy (magic).

4. Who does Faustus make a pact with?

Faustus makes a pact with Lucifer, promising his soul in exchange for 24 years of servitude from the
demon Mephistophilis.

5. Why does Faustus summon Mephistophilis?

Faustus summons Mephistophilis to gain knowledge and power through the practice of magic.

6. What does Faustus receive in exchange for his soul?

In exchange for his soul, Faustus is granted magical powers and Mephistophilis serves him for 24 years.

7. Who are the Good Angel and the Evil Angel?

The Good Angel and the Evil Angel are personifications of Faustus' internal struggle, representing his
conscience and temptation, respectively.

8. What is the significance of the character Helen of Troy in the play?

Helen of Troy symbolizes ultimate beauty and worldly pleasure, distracting Faustus from thoughts of
repentance.

9. Does Faustus repent before his death?

Faustus expresses fear and regret but does not sincerely repent before his time runs out, leading to his
damnation.

10. What lesson does the play Doctor Faustus convey?

The play conveys the lesson that the pursuit of knowledge and power without moral boundaries can
lead to self-destruction and eternal damnation.

11. What is necromancy, and why does Faustus practice it?

Necromancy is the practice of black magic or summoning spirits. Faustus practices it to gain knowledge,
power, and worldly pleasures that he feels traditional studies cannot provide.

12. Who are Valdes and Cornelius in the play?

Valdes and Cornelius are friends of Faustus who encourage him to pursue necromancy and teach him
the basics of black magic.

13. Why does Mephistophilis warn Faustus about making a pact with Lucifer?

Mephistophilis warns Faustus because he himself is damned and understands the misery of being
separated from God’s grace.

14. What is the significance of the character Wagner?

Wagner is Faustus' servant who reflects Faustus' own interest in magic, although on a smaller scale. He
also adds some comic relief to the play.

15. What does Faustus use his magical powers for after making the pact?

Faustus uses his powers for trivial pursuits such as playing pranks, summoning spirits, and impressing
people at courts, rather than for noble or scholarly purposes.

16. How does the Old Man try to help Faustus?

The Old Man tries to persuade Faustus to repent and seek God's forgiveness, emphasizing that it is not
too late for him to save his soul.
17. Why does Faustus summon Helen of Troy?

Faustus summons Helen of Troy as a way to distract himself from thoughts of repentance and to indulge
in worldly beauty and pleasure.

18. What role do the Seven Deadly Sins play in the story?

The Seven Deadly Sins appear as personified characters who entertain Faustus, symbolizing his moral
corruption and the consequences of his pact with the devil.

19. What is the climax of the play?

The climax occurs when Faustus realizes that his time is running out and he faces the inevitability of his
damnation, yet he still fails to truly repent.

20. How does the play end?

The play ends with Faustus being dragged to hell by devils as his time expires, and the chorus reflects on
the moral lesson of the story: the dangers of overreaching ambition.

These questions cover various aspects of the play, including character motivations, themes, and
symbolic elements, helping to provide a comprehensive understanding of Doctor Faustus.

21. What fields of study does Faustus reject at the beginning of the play?

Faustus rejects traditional fields such as philosophy, medicine, law, and theology because he finds them
limited and unfulfilling.

22. What is the role of the Chorus in the play?

The Chorus provides background information, comments on the action, and reflects on the moral
lessons of the play, guiding the audience's interpretation.

23. How does Faustus react when he first meets Mephistophilis?

Faustus is excited and intrigued by Mephistophilis, seeing him as the means to acquire the power he
desires. However, he is also surprised by Mephistophilis' willingness to talk about the horrors of hell.

24. What is Mephistophilis' attitude towards hell?

Mephistophilis describes hell as a state of eternal separation from God, and even though he serves
Lucifer, he is deeply miserable and regrets his fall from grace.

25. Why does Faustus refuse to repent even when given multiple opportunities?
Faustus refuses to repent because of his pride, fear that it is too late for salvation, and his binding
agreement with Lucifer, which he believes is unbreakable.

26. What do Faustus' interactions with the Pope reveal about his character?

Faustus' pranks on the Pope demonstrate his misuse of magical powers for trivial and petty purposes
rather than for something significant, showing a lack of maturity and foresight.

27. What is the significance of the final soliloquy in the play?

In the final soliloquy, Faustus expresses despair and a desperate desire for salvation as his time runs out.
It reveals his ultimate realization of the consequences of his actions and his futile longing for
redemption.

28. How do the scholars react to Faustus' fate?

The scholars lament Faustus' damnation and express regret that he did not repent, highlighting the
tragedy of his wasted potential and lost soul.

29. What does Faustus' signing of the contract with blood symbolize?

The signing of the contract with Faustus' blood symbolizes the irreversible and binding nature of his
agreement with Lucifer, as well as the literal and spiritual sacrifice of his soul.

30. How does Doctor Faustus reflect Renaissance values?

The play reflects Renaissance values through its focus on individual ambition, the pursuit of knowledge,
and the struggle between humanism and religious doctrine. Faustus embodies the Renaissance man
who seeks to exceed traditional boundaries, though ultimately at great cost.

These questions further explore the play's characters, symbols, themes, and its place within the cultural
context of the Renaissance.

31. What was the purpose of Faustus studying divinity before turning to necromancy?

Faustus studied divinity to seek deeper knowledge and understanding, but he ultimately found it
unfulfilling and turned to necromancy to gain greater power and authority.

32. Who is Lucifer in the play, and what is his relationship with Faustus?

Lucifer is the ruler of hell and the master of Mephistophilis. He makes a pact with Faustus, granting him
magical powers in exchange for his soul.

33. What is the role of magic in Faustus' downfall?

Magic serves as the means through which Faustus pursues forbidden knowledge and power, leading to
his moral corruption, spiritual degradation, and ultimate damnation.

34. What does the appearance of the Good and Evil Angels signify in the play?

The appearance of the Good and Evil Angels signifies Faustus' internal struggle between repentance and
continued pursuit of sin, representing his conscience and temptation.

35. What is Faustus' reaction when he first sees the devils near the end of the play?

Faustus becomes terrified and desperate as he realizes that his time is up and the devils are coming to
claim his soul, prompting him to make frantic but futile appeals for salvation.

36. What does the term "Renaissance man" mean, and how does Faustus fit this description?

A "Renaissance man" is someone with a wide range of interests and knowledge, striving for individual
achievement. Faustus fits this description through his pursuit of knowledge in multiple fields and his
desire to exceed human limitations.

37. How does Faustus' character change throughout the play?

Faustus starts as an ambitious scholar seeking power and knowledge, but as the play progresses, he
becomes more disillusioned, fearful, and regretful, ultimately descending into despair as his damnation
approaches.

38. What role do comic scenes play in the tragedy of Doctor Faustus?

The comic scenes provide relief from the serious themes of the play, while also serving to illustrate
Faustus' misuse of his powers for trivial purposes, emphasizing the play's moral message.

39. How does the play depict the conflict between the medieval and Renaissance values?

The play contrasts medieval values, which emphasize religion and submission to God, with Renaissance
values, which emphasize individual ambition and the pursuit of knowledge, highlighting the risks of
excessive ambition.

40. What is the significance of Faustus' final cry, "I'll burn my books"?

Faustus' final cry symbolizes his recognition that his pursuit of forbidden knowledge through magic has
led to his downfall. It reflects his despair and regret for choosing magic over salvation.

These additional questions delve deeper into character development, symbolism, and the cultural
context of Doctor Faustus, providing a thorough understanding of the play.