UNIT – I DRAMA DR. FAUSTUS – CHRISTOPHER MARLOWE
UNIT – I DRAMA
DR. FAUSTUS
–
CHRISTOPHER MARLOWE
Doctor Faustus – Prologue
(I would like to clarify that
I’m following the A-text (1604) version of Christopher Marlowe’s
Doctor Faustus, which is structured into 12
scenes. This version is more commonly used in academic settings, and my
material is based on that format.)
The Chorus opens the play by addressing the audience, setting the tone
for a tragic tale. Unlike epics that feature kings and warriors, this play
focuses on an ordinary scholar named Faustus, born in Germany to humble
parents. Through diligence and intelligence, Faustus rises academically and
earns a doctorate at the University of Wittenberg. However, despite his
scholarly success in divinity and other fields, he becomes dissatisfied with
the limitations of traditional knowledge.
The Chorus reveals Faustus’s ambition to go beyond human limits through
necromancy—magic involving communication with the dead. His fall is framed as a
result of excessive pride and overreaching ambition. The prologue foreshadows
his tragic end, comparing him to Icarus, who flew too close to the sun. The
theme of Renaissance humanism clashing with religious humility is established
right at the outset.
📘 Scene 1 – Faustus’s Ambitions
and the Pact with Magic
In Scene 1, Faustus sits alone in his study, contemplating what field of
study he should pursue next. He dismisses logic, medicine, law, and theology,
declaring that they are too limited or serve others rather than bringing him
true power. Theology is rejected because of its focus on divine punishment and
mercy. This rejection leads him to necromancy, which he believes will bring him
supernatural power and wealth. Faustus’s pride and thirst for control over
nature are immediately evident.
Valdes and Cornelius, two friends skilled in the dark arts, arrive and
encourage him to begin conjuring. They assure him that magic will give him
command over the world, from summoning spirits to influencing emperors. Faustus
becomes intoxicated by the idea of wielding such authority. This scene
highlights the turning point of his life, as he decides to abandon spiritual
salvation in exchange for worldly knowledge and power.
📘 Scene 2 – Comic Relief and
Warnings
Two scholars, Faustus’s colleagues, appear and ask Wagner (Faustus’s
servant) about their friend’s whereabouts. Wagner informs them that Faustus is
meeting with Valdes and Cornelius. The scholars express concern, fearing that
Faustus is dabbling in dangerous magical practices. They foreshadow that such
pursuits might lead to his ruin and decide to inform the university authorities
or clergymen.
Meanwhile, Wagner has a comic interaction with a clown, trying to hire
him as his servant. Wagner uses pseudo-magical threats to intimidate the clown,
invoking devils like “Baliol and Belcher.” This scene provides comic relief and
contrasts the grand, tragic ambitions of Faustus with foolish imitation by
lower characters. However, it subtly reinforces the idea that magic—even in
jest—is not something to be treated lightly.
Scene 3 – The Conjuring of Mephistophilis
In this pivotal scene, Faustus prepares to summon a devil by drawing a
magical circle and chanting spells. He performs an incantation that calls upon
the spirits of hell. As a result, a terrifying demon appears. Faustus is
initially frightened and demands that the devil change form to something more
pleasing. The spirit complies and returns as Mephistophilis, appearing in the
form of a friar.
Faustus is thrilled by the success of his conjuring and immediately
demands that Mephistophilis serve him. However, Mephistophilis explains that he
serves Lucifer, not Faustus, and only came because Faustus blasphemed against
God. This response surprises Faustus, but he continues in his arrogance. When
Faustus questions Mephistophilis about hell, the demon replies that hell is not
only a place but a state of eternal separation from God. Faustus, ignoring the
warning, arrogantly insists on gaining power. He resolves to offer his soul to
Lucifer in exchange for twenty-four years of service from Mephistophilis.
📘 Scene 4 – The Comic Mirror of
Faustus’s Ambition
This scene offers comic relief and parallels Faustus’s earlier dealings
with devils. Wagner attempts to mimic his master by conjuring devils to impress
and terrify the clown, Robin. He threatens the clown with demonic torment if he
refuses to serve him. The devils appear briefly and frighten the clown into
submission, who agrees to become Wagner’s servant.
Although humorous, this scene also highlights the theme of hubris and
the dangers of summoning powers beyond human control. It serves as a satirical
echo of the main plot, showing how even minor characters try to wield powers
they do not fully understand. The recurring idea that even those mocking dark
arts can become entangled in them is emphasized.
Scene 5 – The Pact with Lucifer
Scene 5 marks a turning point: Faustus formally decides to surrender his
soul. He is visited by the Good and Evil Angels once again. The Good Angel
urges him to repent and seek God’s mercy, but the Evil Angel encourages him to
go forward with his ambition. Faustus chooses the path of forbidden knowledge
and summons Mephistophilis. He then agrees to sign a contract with Lucifer in
blood. As he pricks his arm to write, his blood congeals—a possible divine
sign—but he dismisses it, and after warming his blood, he signs the pact.
Once the contract is complete, Faustus begins to ask Mephistophilis
questions about hell, the cosmos, and Lucifer himself. Although Mephistophilis
answers most questions, he evades some theological ones. When Faustus expresses
a desire to learn about the creation of the world, Mephistophilis distracts him
with a display of devils and gifts. Faustus's pursuit of knowledge is already
being replaced by shallow distractions. The appearance of Lucifer and Beelzebub
to threaten Faustus if he ever turns to God again underscores how bound he now
is to his fatal decision.
📘 Scene 6 – Comic Interlude with
Robin and Rafe
Robin, the clown, and Rafe, a stablehand, get their hands on one of
Faustus’s conjuring books. They plan to use magic to steal beer and have
adventures. Their intentions are childish, and their understanding of magic is
comically limited. This scene is again humorous, but it reflects the broader
theme of misused knowledge.
The scene also functions to show how Faustus’s influence, both as a
magician and as a scholar who defied religious and moral boundaries, has
trickled down to the lower class. The contrast between Faustus’s serious pact
and Robin’s buffoonery highlights the trivialization of power and the misuse of
sacred knowledge.
Scene 7 – Faustus Travels and Mocks Religion
In this scene, Faustus grows increasingly frivolous with his powers.
Having received magical gifts and knowledge, he travels to Rome with
Mephistophilis. There, he plans to mock the Pope and disrupt a religious
banquet. Mephistophilis makes them invisible, and they both enter a papal
feast, where they play pranks—snatching food and hitting the clergy. Faustus is
delighted by the chaos he causes in the center of Catholic power.
The scene is rich in anti-Catholic satire, common in Elizabethan
England. It also reveals how Faustus’s lofty ambitions have declined. Rather
than pursuing profound knowledge or helping mankind, he now uses his powers for
juvenile tricks. His pact, once forged for ultimate wisdom and authority, is
reduced to slapstick and mockery. This turning point marks the wasting of his
potential and serves as a commentary on spiritual corruption.
📘 Scene 8 – Robin’s Magical
Misadventure
Back in the comic subplot, Robin and Rafe, now emboldened by Faustus’s
spellbook, attempt to use magic to summon Mephistophilis for their own
amusement. They bungle the incantations, and Mephistophilis appears in anger.
The devils threaten to punish them for misusing spells. Robin and Rafe try to
excuse themselves, but Mephistophilis transforms them as punishment—Robin into
an ape and Rafe into a dog.
Though humorous, this scene continues the theme that magic and forbidden
knowledge, when used by the ignorant, bring degradation. It also mirrors
Faustus’s own loss of control over the powers he unleashed. The lower-class
characters provide comic relief but also reinforce the play’s warnings about
pride, irreverence, and the consequences of seeking power without wisdom.
Scene 9 – The Seven Deadly Sins and the Illusion of
Power
Faustus begins to grow uneasy about his bargain. The Good and Evil
Angels reappear, pulling him between repentance and despair. The Good Angel
urges him to turn back to God, but the Evil Angel convinces him it’s too late.
Mephistophilis then appears and reassures Faustus with shallow distractions,
promising him more pleasures. To entertain him, Lucifer presents the Seven
Deadly Sins, each personified and paraded before Faustus—Pride, Covetousness,
Wrath, Envy, Gluttony, Sloth, and Lechery.
Faustus is momentarily delighted by this spectacle, but the scene
underscores his spiritual blindness. Instead of repenting while he still has
time, he is lured by theatrical illusions. The Seven Deadly Sins scene reflects
Faustus’s inner corruption and his growing addiction to base pleasures. This
dramatic tableau replaces the intellectual and spiritual pursuits that once
defined his ambition.
📘 Scene 10 – Faustus’s Fame and
the Vision of Helen
Faustus gains a reputation across Europe as a man of great learning and
supernatural power. The Emperor of Germany invites him to court, where Faustus
demonstrates his magic by conjuring the spirit of Alexander the Great and his
lover. The emperor is impressed, and Faustus’s fame increases. However, his use
of power continues to serve prideful and superficial ends.
Later, Faustus encounters a group of scholars who ask to see the
legendary Helen of Troy. Faustus conjures a vision of her, and the scholars are
enraptured by her beauty. When they leave, Faustus—feeling the weight of
despair again—calls upon Helen once more and utters his famous line: “Was this
the face that launched a thousand ships…?” He kisses the spirit, asking her to
make him immortal. This act symbolizes his complete surrender to illusion and
sensuality. Rather than seeking redemption, Faustus clings to fantasy and
desire, sealing his doom.
Scene 11 – The Final Warning and the Scholar’s
Concern
In this scene, a group of scholars discuss Faustus’s deep knowledge and
fame. They admire him and express concern about his strange behavior. They
approach him with intellectual respect, hoping to understand the source of his
power. Faustus entertains their curiosity by conjuring the image of Helen of
Troy once more. The scholars are mesmerized, but Faustus’s internal struggle
continues to grow.
After they leave, an Old Man enters and gives a heartfelt plea for
Faustus to repent. He speaks with spiritual authority and compassion, urging
Faustus to turn back to God while he still can. The Old Man tells Faustus that
even now, divine mercy is possible. For a moment, Faustus is moved and begins
to repent—but Mephistophilis returns and threatens him with torture. Terrified,
Faustus reaffirms his allegiance to Lucifer. In a horrifying act, he offers his
blood again and even calls upon Helen’s spirit to distract him, asking her to
“make me immortal with a kiss.” The contrast between the Old Man’s spiritual
grace and Faustus’s sensual surrender highlights the tragic waste of
redemption.
📘 Scene 12 – The Last Hour and
Faustus’s Damnation
The final scene begins with Faustus awaiting midnight—the hour when his
24-year pact with Lucifer ends. He is tormented by fear and regret, pacing and
reflecting on his choices. Scholars arrive, unaware of his full fate, and he
confesses everything to them. They are horrified and promise to pray for him,
but Faustus says it is too late. As midnight approaches, he cries out in agony,
begging God to spare him, even asking for an extension of time—“a year, a
month, a week, a day….”
But no divine voice answers. The devils arrive as the clock strikes
twelve. Faustus’s cries grow more desperate, and he is dragged away offstage to
eternal damnation. The Chorus returns in the epilogue to summarize the lesson:
Faustus, a man who reached beyond human limits and defied God for knowledge and
power, met his end in despair. His downfall is a cautionary tale about pride,
ambition, and the price of turning away from salvation.
*****
1. What academic field does Faustus initially reject as unworthy of his
ambition?
(A) Astronomy
(B) Philosophy
✔️ (C) Divinity
(D) Mathematics
Reason: Faustus rejects theology because it emphasizes divine mercy and
punishment, which he sees as limiting. (Scene 1)
2. Which characters first encourage Faustus to pursue necromancy?
✔️ (A) Valdes and Cornelius
(B) Mephistophilis and Lucifer
(C) Wagner and the Clown
(D) The Good and Evil Angels
Reason: Valdes and Cornelius are magicians who excite Faustus with the
possibilities of magic. (Scene 1)
3. What is the setting of the Prologue delivered by the Chorus?
(A) In Lucifer’s court
✔️ (B) Outside the traditional heroic setting
(C) In a monastery
(D) In a battlefield
Reason: The Chorus explains that the play will not focus on kings or
warriors but on a scholar’s rise and fall. (Prologue)
4. How does Faustus sign his pact with Lucifer?
(A) With golden ink
✔️ (B) With his own blood
(C) With Mephistophilis as a witness
(D) By writing in the magic book
Reason: Faustus pricks his arm and signs the contract in blood. (Scene
5)
5. What interrupts Faustus’s signing of the contract?
(A) A lightning bolt
(B) A vision of hell
✔️ (C) His blood congeals
(D) A knock at the door
Reason: His blood clots, which may symbolize divine intervention, but he
dismisses it. (Scene 5)
6. What theological question does Faustus ask Mephistophilis that
remains unanswered?
✔️ (A) Who made the world?
(B) What is the greatest sin?
(C) Where is God?
(D) How long is eternity?
Reason: When Faustus asks who made the world, Mephistophilis refuses to
answer. (Scene 5)
7. How does Mephistophilis describe hell?
(A) As a fiery pit under the earth
✔️ (B) As a state of being separated from God
(C) As a place where demons torture souls
(D) As a metaphor for guilt
Reason: Mephistophilis explains that hell is being cut off from the
presence of God. (Scene 3)
8. What spectacle does Lucifer offer to distract Faustus from
repentance?
(A) Visions of paradise
✔️ (B) The Seven Deadly Sins
(C) The Ten Commandments
(D) A display of magical creatures
Reason: Lucifer presents the Seven Deadly Sins to entertain and distract
Faustus. (Scene 9)
9. Who tries to convince Faustus to repent even after he has signed the
contract?
✔️ (A) The Good Angel and the Old Man
(B) Wagner and the Scholars
(C) Helen of Troy
(D) Valdes and Cornelius
Reason: The Good Angel and later the Old Man beg Faustus to seek God’s
mercy. (Scenes 5 and 11)
10. What is the first major trick Faustus plays with his magical powers?
(A) Summoning Helen
✔️ (B) Mocking the Pope in Rome
(C) Summoning Alexander the Great
(D) Bringing storms upon cities
Reason: Faustus and Mephistophilis visit Rome and play pranks on the
Pope using invisibility. (Scene 7)
11. What form does Mephistophilis first appear in when Faustus conjures
him?
(A) A lion with wings
✔️ (B) A monstrous demon
(C) A friar
(D) A beautiful angel
Reason: Mephistophilis first appears in a terrifying form and only
changes to a friar at Faustus's request. (Scene 3)
12. What item does Faustus use to perform his conjuring ritual?
(A) A magic wand
✔️ (B) A circle and incantations
(C) A silver dagger
(D) A scroll from Lucifer
Reason: Faustus draws a magic circle and chants Latin spells to summon
spirits. (Scene 3)
13. How many years of service does Faustus receive from Mephistophilis?
(A) 12
✔️ (B) 24
(C) 40
(D) 100
Reason: Faustus sells his soul in exchange for 24 years of magical
service. (Scene 5)
14. What is Faustus’s first reaction after Mephistophilis explains the
horrors of hell?
✔️ (A) He dismisses it as a fable
(B) He trembles and repents
(C) He falls unconscious
(D) He calls for a priest
Reason: Faustus says he thinks hell is a fable and continues in
arrogance. (Scene 3)
15. What happens when Faustus tries to repent for the first time?
(A) The Pope appears
✔️ (B) Lucifer and Mephistophilis threaten him
(C) Helen comforts him
(D) His contract vanishes
Reason: When Faustus begins to consider repentance, the devils appear to
threaten and distract him. (Scene 5)
16. What trick does Faustus perform for the Emperor of Germany?
✔️ (A) Summons Alexander the Great
(B) Makes wine appear from the air
(C) Turns stones into gold
(D) Stops time
Reason: Faustus conjures an image of Alexander the Great to entertain
the Emperor. (Scene 10)
17. Who is the comic character that attempts to use Faustus’s spellbook?
✔️ (A) Robin
(B) Valdes
(C) Lucifer
(D) Wagner
Reason: Robin is a clown who tries to misuse Faustus’s magic for
stealing beer and mischief. (Scenes 6 & 8)
18. What punishment does Mephistophilis give to Robin and Rafe?
✔️ (A) Turns them into an ape and a dog
(B) Sends them to Egypt
(C) Blinds them
(D) Turns them into statues
Reason: Mephistophilis transforms Robin into an ape and Rafe into a dog
for mocking magic. (Scene 8)
19. What famous phrase does Faustus utter when seeing Helen of Troy?
(A) “Let my soul be saved”
(B) “Glory to the queen of Greece”
✔️ (C) “Was this the face that launch’d a thousand
ships”
(D) “She is the pride of nations”
Reason: Faustus uses the famous line to praise Helen’s beauty. (Scene
10)
20. What advice does the Old Man give Faustus?
(A) Travel far and hide
✔️ (B) Repent and seek God’s mercy
(C) Offer gold to the church
(D) Use magic to reverse time
Reason: The Old Man pleads with Faustus to repent before it’s too late,
promising God’s mercy still awaits. (Scene 11)
21. Why does Faustus hesitate to repent even when the Old Man urges him?
(A) He no longer believes in God
(B) He is too ill to speak
✔️ (C) He fears Mephistophilis’s wrath
(D) He has lost his memory
Reason: Faustus wants to repent but fears punishment from Mephistophilis
and the devils. (Scene 11)
22. What reward does Lucifer give Faustus for reaffirming his loyalty?
✔️ (A) Helen of Troy’s spirit
(B) A kingdom to rule
(C) A magical staff
(D) A book of secrets
Reason: After Faustus renews his pact, he is allowed to summon Helen
again for pleasure and distraction. (Scene 11)
23. How do the scholars react when Faustus confesses his pact with
Lucifer?
✔️ (A) They are shocked and promise to pray for him
(B) They laugh at him
(C) They ask to learn magic too
(D) They summon Lucifer to cancel it
Reason: The scholars are horrified and say they will pray for Faustus’s
soul. (Scene 12)
24. What specific time does Faustus's soul get claimed by the devils?
(A) At sunrise
✔️ (B) At midnight
(C) At noon
(D) At dusk
Reason: The 24-year term ends at midnight, and the devils come to drag
Faustus away. (Scene 12)
25. What does Faustus ask for in his final hour?
(A) More wealth
(B) The return of Helen
✔️ (C) More time — even a day or an hour
(D) A weapon to fight the devils
Reason: In desperation, he pleads for time to repent, even “a year, a
month, a week, a natural day.” (Scene 12)
26. What emotion dominates Faustus in the final scene?
(A) Anger
(B) Pride
(C) Joy
✔️ (D) Terror and regret
Reason: Faustus is overwhelmed with fear, begging for deliverance as the
devils approach. (Scene 12)
27. How is Faustus finally taken from the stage?
✔️ (A) Dragged off by devils
(B) Buried by scholars
(C) Rises into the air
(D) Faints and dies silently
Reason: The stage directions indicate that devils drag him away,
symbolizing his eternal damnation. (Scene 12)
28. What lesson does the Chorus deliver in the epilogue?
(A) Magic should be practiced only by priests
(B) Faustus was a fool with no talent
✔️ (C) Faustus’s fall is a warning against pride and
forbidden knowledge
(D) Faustus was a hero misunderstood
Reason: The Chorus ends by warning the audience not to overreach or
challenge divine authority. (Epilogue)
29. How does Marlowe contrast Faustus’s early ambitions with his later
actions?
(A) Faustus grows more holy over time
✔️ (B) His lofty goals decay into shallow
entertainment
(C) Faustus becomes more powerful and wise
(D) He turns into a political leader
Reason: Though Faustus once sought cosmic knowledge, he wastes his
powers on tricks and illusions. (Throughout the play)
30. Which of the following best reflects Faustus’s tragic flaw?
(A) Laziness
(B) Jealousy
(C) Compassion
✔️ (D) Excessive pride (hubris)
Reason: Faustus’s downfall stems from his arrogant ambition to surpass
human and divine limits. (Theme of the play)
31. Which classical figure is used as a metaphor for Faustus’s fall in
the Prologue?
✔️ (A) Icarus
(B) Prometheus
(C) Hercules
(D) Achilles
Reason: The Chorus compares Faustus’s overreaching ambition to Icarus,
who flew too close to the sun. (Prologue)
32. What does Faustus say about astrology and medicine?
✔️ (A) They are limited and cannot satisfy him
(B) They are demonic arts
(C) They are paths to salvation
(D) They are practiced only by fools
Reason: Faustus dismisses them as worldly and inadequate for gaining
ultimate power. (Scene 1)
33. What profession does Faustus originally hold?
(A) Lawyer
✔️ (B) Doctor of Divinity
(C) Alchemist
(D) Military strategist
Reason: Faustus holds a doctorate in divinity, showing his fall from
spiritual knowledge to forbidden arts. (Scene 1)
34. Why does Mephistophilis say he left heaven?
✔️ (A) He was cast out because of Lucifer’s rebellion
(B) He sought power elsewhere
(C) He wanted to help mankind
(D) He was jealous of the angels
Reason: Mephistophilis was a fallen angel who followed Lucifer in
rebellion and now suffers in hell. (Scene 3)
35. How does Mephistophilis describe his emotional state?
✔️ (A) He is in torment even when not in hell
physically
(B) He feels joy serving Lucifer
(C) He is content in the service of men
(D) He no longer believes in God
Reason: He says, “Why, this is hell, nor am I out of it,” indicating his
spiritual torment. (Scene 3)
36. What does Faustus refuse to believe about hell?
✔️ (A) That it is real and painful
(B) That it is governed by Lucifer
(C) That souls can be tormented
(D) That fire exists in it
Reason: Faustus calls hell “a fable” and arrogantly denies its truth. (Scene
3)
37. What motivates Faustus’s turn to magic more than anything else?
(A) A vision
✔️ (B) A thirst for power and godlike status
(C) Poverty
(D) Mephistophilis’s persuasion
Reason: Faustus desires to be more than human and control nature, time,
and death. (Scene 1)
38. What genre best describes Doctor Faustus?
(A) Comedy of manners
✔️ (B) Tragedy
(C) Romance
(D) Allegorical satire
Reason: Doctor Faustus is a Renaissance tragedy centered on the
fall of a flawed hero. (Entire play)
39. What role does Wagner play in the overall structure of the play?
(A) Devil’s accomplice
(B) Priest figure
✔️ (C) Comic relief and servant
(D) Representative of the church
Reason: Wagner provides comic episodes and serves as Faustus’s servant. (Scenes
2, 4)
40. What spiritual theme dominates the entire play?
✔️ (A) Salvation versus damnation
(B) Love versus hate
(C) Revenge and forgiveness
(D) Fate and fortune
Reason: The central tension revolves around Faustus’s soul and his
refusal to repent in time. (Overall theme)
41. What does Faustus ask Mephistophilis to bring him after signing the
pact?
✔️ (A) A wife
(B) A magical ring
(C) A kingdom
(D) A book of medicine
Reason: Faustus initially asks for a wife, but Mephistophilis refuses
and offers a courtesan instead. (Scene 5)
42. How does Mephistophilis respond when Faustus asks who made the
world?
(A) He says it was fate
(B) He says it was Lucifer
✔️ (C) He refuses to answer
(D) He gives a full answer
Reason: Mephistophilis dodges the question, likely because acknowledging
God would be blasphemous. (Scene 5)
43. Which of these is one of the Seven Deadly Sins personified before
Faustus?
(A) Hope
(B) Despair
✔️ (C) Sloth
(D) Envy of angels
Reason: Lucifer presents Sloth, along with the other classic Deadly
Sins, to distract Faustus. (Scene 9)
44. What emotion does Mephistophilis express when discussing his fall
from heaven?
(A) Indifference
✔️ (B) Misery and regret
(C) Satisfaction
(D) Vengeance
Reason: Mephistophilis tells Faustus that he is tormented because he
once lived in God’s presence. (Scene 3)
45. How does Faustus view Mephistophilis at the beginning of their
relationship?
✔️ (A) As a servant
(B) As a master
(C) As a teacher
(D) As an angel
Reason: Faustus arrogantly believes that Mephistophilis is now under his
command. (Scene 3)
46. What does Faustus ultimately trade for magical powers?
(A) His knowledge
(B) His family
✔️ (C) His soul
(D) His position at the university
Reason: The central pact of the play is Faustus offering his soul to
Lucifer for 24 years of magical service. (Scene 5)
47. What is the role of the Good and Evil Angels throughout the play?
✔️ (A) They represent Faustus’s inner conflict
(B) They are messengers of Lucifer
(C) They are illusions created by magic
(D) They control Faustus’s fate
Reason: The angels reflect Faustus’s conscience — one urging repentance,
the other temptation. (Multiple scenes)
48. Why does Faustus turn away from repentance even after several
chances?
(A) He never believed in God
(B) He is too prideful to confess
(C) He wants more knowledge
✔️ (D) He believes it is too late and fears Lucifer
Reason: Faustus repeatedly believes his soul is already lost and fears
the devils’ threats. (Scenes 5, 11, 12)
49. What is Faustus’s emotional state during his final hour?
✔️ (A) Desperate and terrified
(B) Defiant and proud
(C) Joyful and calm
(D) Hopeful and patient
Reason: Faustus is tormented with fear, screaming for time to stop and
death to delay. (Scene 12)
50. What is the significance of the Chorus’s final lines?
(A) To mock Faustus
✔️ (B) To warn the audience about the dangers of
ambition
(C) To promote necromancy
(D) To glorify Faustus as a tragic hero
Reason: The Chorus delivers the moral, warning others not to seek power
beyond the human limit. (Epilogue)
51. What is the main reason Faustus desires magical power?
(A) To help the poor
(B) To teach philosophy
✔️ (C) To gain control and perform miracles
(D) To fight Lucifer
Reason: Faustus believes magic will make him powerful like a god,
letting him reshape the world. (Scene 1)
52. What advice does the Evil Angel consistently give Faustus?
(A) Pray and seek forgiveness
✔️ (B) Think of honor and earthly greatness
(C) Trust only in scholars
(D) Avoid Valdes and Cornelius
Reason: The Evil Angel tempts Faustus with promises of fame, power, and
greatness. (Multiple scenes)
53. How is Faustus’s final cry symbolic of his inner torment?
✔️ (A) He begs for the universe to stop and for time
to pause
(B) He curses the scholars for not saving him
(C) He tries to cast a final spell
(D) He calls for Helen again
Reason: His desperate pleas for the sun to stand still reflect his fear
and regret. (Scene 12)
54. What literary device is heavily used in Faustus’s final soliloquy?
(A) Irony
(B) Satire
✔️ (C) Apostrophe and imagery
(D) Allegory
Reason: Faustus speaks to time, stars, and Christ in desperation, using
vivid, fearful imagery. (Scene 12)
55. What does Faustus hope Helen’s kiss will do for him?
✔️ (A) Make him immortal
(B) Break the contract
(C) Restore his youth
(D) Forgive his sins
Reason: Faustus turns to sensuality and illusion, hoping Helen will make
him forget judgment. (Scene 11)
56. What does the Clown (Robin) symbolize in the play?
(A) The power of redemption
✔️ (B) Comic ignorance and misuse of knowledge
(C) Political rebellion
(D) The voice of reason
Reason: Robin provides comic relief and parodies Faustus’s misuse of
magic. (Scenes 4, 6, 8)
57. What physical sign occurs during Faustus’s signing of the contract?
(A) Lightning strikes the study
✔️ (B) His blood congeals
(C) A crow appears
(D) The book burns
Reason: His blood clots unexpectedly, possibly a divine warning, but
Faustus ignores it. (Scene 5)
58. Why does Mephistophilis obey Faustus’s commands?
(A) He loves Faustus
(B) He seeks redemption
✔️ (C) Because Faustus has given his soul to Lucifer
(D) Because Faustus is a master of magic
Reason: Mephistophilis serves Faustus as part of the pact sealed with
Faustus’s soul. (Scene 3–5)
59. What does Faustus fail to do, even in his final moments?
✔️ (A) Truly repent and ask God’s forgiveness
(B) Cast one final spell
(C) Ask Mephistophilis to release him
(D) Destroy the magical books
Reason: Though he regrets his fate, Faustus never sincerely repents or
turns to Christ. (Scene 12)
60. How does Faustus describe the pain of hell in his last speech?
(A) Like a winter storm
✔️ (B) Never-ending pain, “a thousand, thousand years”
(C) Like thunder that never stops
(D) A fire that cleanses
Reason: Faustus begs that his soul be punished for “a hundred thousand
years” if only not forever. (Scene 12)
61. What theological doctrine does Faustus struggle with throughout the
play?
(A) Baptism
✔️ (B) Predestination and free will
(C) Resurrection
(D) Transubstantiation
Reason: Faustus frequently debates whether he is already damned or can
still choose repentance. (Multiple scenes)
62. What is the first visible sign of Faustus's damnation in the final
scene?
✔️ (A) A clock striking midnight
(B) Flames entering the room
(C) Mephistophilis laughing
(D) A wound reopening
Reason: The ticking of the clock and the stroke of midnight signal the
moment of damnation. (Scene 12)
63. What does Faustus give to the Horse-courser?
(A) A book of spells
(B) A dagger
✔️ (C) An enchanted horse
(D) A bottle of wine
Reason: Faustus sells the Horse-courser a magical horse that turns into
straw when ridden in water. (Scene 10)
64. What happens when the Horse-courser returns in anger?
(A) Faustus disappears
✔️ (B) Faustus pretends to be dead and then scares
him
(C) Faustus attacks him with devils
(D) The horse turns back into a demon
Reason: Faustus tricks him again by pretending to be dead, then leaps up
and terrifies him. (Scene 10)
65. Why does Faustus choose not to pray for forgiveness at the end?
✔️ (A) He believes it is too late
(B) He forgets
(C) He’s too distracted by pain
(D) The Old Man stops him
Reason: Faustus says it is too late for his soul, choosing despair over
faith. (Scene 12)
66. What does Mephistophilis say about Lucifer’s kingdom?
(A) It is beautiful and peaceful
✔️ (B) It is full of misery and sorrow
(C) It is only metaphorical
(D) It is part of heaven
Reason: Mephistophilis admits hell is eternal loss, and no joy can exist
there. (Scene 3)
67. Which sin is most clearly associated with Faustus?
✔️ (A) Pride
(B) Sloth
(C) Lust
(D) Envy
Reason: Faustus’s downfall stems from his prideful desire to surpass
human limits. (Theme of the play)
68. How does Faustus describe his scholarly reputation at the start?
(A) Weak but rising
(B) Ridiculed by peers
✔️ (C) Admired and respected
(D) Hidden from the public
Reason: The Chorus and Faustus himself state that he is renowned at
Wittenberg. (Prologue, Scene 1)
69. What is the function of the Chorus in Doctor Faustus?
✔️ (A) To provide commentary and moral reflection
(B) To cast spells
(C) To narrate Mephistophilis’s backstory
(D) To provide comic relief
Reason: The Chorus introduces and concludes the play, warning of the
consequences of sin. (Prologue & Epilogue)
70. Why is the contract written in blood significant?
✔️ (A) It symbolizes life and irreversible damnation
(B) It makes Faustus immortal
(C) It unlocks hidden powers
(D) It heals Mephistophilis
Reason: Blood symbolizes the soul, and the act of signing in blood seals
Faustus’s eternal fate. (Scene 5)
71. What physical torment does Faustus imagine in hell?
(A) Eternal ice
✔️ (B) Never-ending fire and burning
(C) Chains and darkness
(D) Whips and scorpions
Reason: Faustus envisions hell as a burning lake and begs not to “burn
eternally.” (Scene 12)
72. What is one of the signs of Faustus’s despair before death?
✔️ (A) He curses his parents for begetting him
(B) He tries to run away
(C) He offers to kill Mephistophilis
(D) He prays aloud
Reason: Faustus blames his parents and his fate, showing emotional
breakdown. (Scene 12)
73. How does Marlowe use the Old Man in the structure of the play?
✔️ (A) As a symbol of spiritual wisdom and salvation
(B) As a ghost from Faustus’s past
(C) As a disguised devil
(D) As a fool for comic relief
Reason: The Old Man is a holy figure offering Faustus a final path to
grace. (Scene 11)
74. What does Faustus regret most at the end of his life?
✔️ (A) Wasting his time on vanity instead of
salvation
(B) Not killing Mephistophilis
(C) Studying philosophy
(D) Being mocked by scholars
Reason: He realizes he traded eternal joy for fleeting pleasures. (Scene
12)
75. Why does Faustus’s conjuring of Alexander the Great impress the
Emperor?
✔️ (A) It demonstrates great power and realism
(B) It predicts the Emperor’s future
(C) It creates a new empire
(D) It makes gold appear
Reason: The emperor is amazed by how lifelike the vision is and calls it
“truthful.” (Scene 10)
76. How is Helen of Troy used symbolically in the play?
(A) As a symbol of historical truth
(B) As a political threat
✔️ (C) As a symbol of beauty, temptation, and
illusion
(D) As a messenger from the gods
Reason: Helen is used to seduce Faustus and distract him from
repentance. (Scene 11)
77. Which group serves as witnesses to Faustus’s death and damnation?
(A) Priests
✔️ (B) Scholars
(C) Merchants
(D) Soldiers
Reason: The scholars find Faustus’s body and reflect on his fall. (Scene
12)
78. What phrase does Faustus use to describe the loss of his soul?
(A) “I die a thousand deaths”
(B) “The soul shall wander free”
✔️ (C) “O, I’ll leap up to my God — who pulls me
down?”
(D) “Damnation is my crown”
Reason: This line shows his desire to be saved but being restrained by
hellish forces. (Scene 12)
79. What tone best describes Faustus’s final soliloquy?
(A) Proud and reflective
(B) Playful and mocking
✔️ (C) Desperate and terrified
(D) Enlightened and peaceful
Reason: Faustus is begging, crying, and panicking as death and damnation
approach. (Scene 12)
80. How does the Chorus summarize the fate of Faustus?
✔️ (A) A man who fell from grace due to pride and
unholy ambition
(B) A prophet misunderstood in his time
(C) A teacher who became a martyr
(D) A hero who fought the forces of evil
Reason: The Chorus warns the audience against aspiring above their
place, as Faustus did. (Epilogue)
81. What does Faustus give the Duke of Vanholt?
(A) A map of the world
(B) A magical sword
✔️ (C) A fresh bunch of grapes in winter
(D) A potion of eternal youth
Reason: Faustus magically brings grapes for the Duchess, who craves them
during winter. (Scene 10)
82. What does Faustus ask Mephistophilis to teach him after the pact?
✔️ (A) The nature of the cosmos and astrology
(B) How to fly
(C) The names of angels
(D) How to walk through fire
Reason: Faustus seeks knowledge of the stars, planets, and universe. (Scene
5)
83. What does the Good Angel promise if Faustus repents?
(A) Helen’s return
(B) Resurrection
✔️ (C) Divine mercy and salvation
(D) Restoration of wealth
Reason: The Good Angel urges Faustus to repent and assures him God’s
mercy is available. (Multiple scenes)
84. What is Faustus’s attitude when he first discusses magic?
(A) Hesitant and skeptical
✔️ (B) Excited and determined
(C) Sad and reflective
(D) Disgusted but curious
Reason: Faustus eagerly anticipates becoming powerful through
necromancy. (Scene 1)
85. Who provides comic relief through parody of the main plot?
✔️ (A) Robin and Rafe
(B) Valdes and Cornelius
(C) The Pope and Cardinals
(D) Lucifer and Beelzebub
Reason: Robin and Rafe mimic Faustus’s magical aspirations in a foolish,
comical way. (Scenes 6 & 8)
86. Why do devils appear when Faustus considers repenting?
✔️ (A) To threaten and distract him
(B) To kill the Old Man
(C) To carry him away
(D) To remind him of God
Reason: Whenever Faustus leans toward repentance, devils appear to
terrify him and keep him bound. (Scenes 5, 11)
87. What is Faustus’s final cry before being dragged to hell?
✔️ (A) “I’ll burn my books!”
(B) “Fly, fly from Lucifer!”
(C) “Forgive me, O Christ!”
(D) “Let Helen save me!”
Reason: In desperation, Faustus screams, “I’ll burn my books!”
symbolizing regret for his choices. (Scene 12)
88. What does Mephistophilis gain from his service to Faustus?
✔️ (A) Another damned soul for Lucifer
(B) Earthly riches
(C) Release from hell
(D) Authority over Faustus
Reason: Mephistophilis tells Faustus he is not serving him out of
kindness, but to secure his soul for hell. (Scene 3)
89. What classical allusion does the Chorus use in the Epilogue?
✔️ (A) Icarus
(B) Theseus
(C) Ulysses
(D) Perseus
Reason: The Chorus again refers to Icarus, warning about the dangers of
overambition. (Epilogue)
90. Why does the contract between Faustus and Lucifer hold such power?
(A) It was signed before witnesses
(B) It is written on magical parchment
✔️ (C) It is sealed with Faustus’s blood and his will
(D) It contains God’s approval
Reason: The symbolic use of blood binds Faustus's soul in a sacred and
irreversible pact. (Scene 5)
91. What irony lies in Faustus’s pursuit of knowledge?
✔️ (A) He becomes ignorant of salvation while seeking
forbidden wisdom
(B) He gains power over death
(C) He exposes Mephistophilis as a fraud
(D) He restores peace in Europe
Reason: Faustus, in pursuing all knowledge, ignores the most important —
the salvation of his soul. (Entire play)
92. What lesson is intended through Faustus’s tragic end?
(A) That ambition is always evil
✔️ (B) That unchecked pride leads to downfall
(C) That magic must be respected
(D) That the church must punish heretics
Reason: Faustus’s pride (hubris) blinds him to redemption until it’s too
late, fulfilling the moral of a tragedy. (Epilogue)
93. Which of the following is NOT one of the Seven Deadly Sins shown to
Faustus?
✔️ (A) Hope
(B) Envy
(C) Wrath
(D) Sloth
Reason: Hope is a theological virtue, not a sin; the Seven Deadly Sins
are Pride, Covetousness, Wrath, Envy, Gluttony, Sloth, and Lechery. (Scene
9)
94. What does Faustus’s use of magic gradually become?
✔️ (A) Trivial and self-indulgent
(B) Focused on healing
(C) Political
(D) Religious and reverent
Reason: Though he sought cosmic power, Faustus mostly uses magic for
tricks and sensual pleasures. (Middle scenes)
95. Who threatens Faustus when he wavers in his loyalty to Lucifer?
✔️ (A) Lucifer and Mephistophilis
(B) Valdes and Cornelius
(C) The Clown
(D) Wagner
Reason: Whenever Faustus considers repentance, Lucifer and
Mephistophilis reappear to intimidate him. (Scenes 5, 11)
96. What is the role of Mephistophilis in Faustus’s downfall?
✔️ (A) Tempter and enforcer of the pact
(B) A betraying friend
(C) A misunderstood angel
(D) A comic distraction
Reason: Mephistophilis tempts Faustus, misleads him, and ultimately ensures
his damnation. (Entire play)
97. What emotion dominates the tone of Faustus’s final monologue?
(A) Gratitude
(B) Reverence
✔️ (C) Panic and remorse
(D) Satisfaction
Reason: Faustus pleads for mercy and curses himself as the devils close
in. (Scene 12)
98. What does Faustus’s fate suggest about human limitations?
✔️ (A) That humans must respect divine boundaries
(B) That humans should avoid studying
(C) That science is dangerous
(D) That faith is irrelevant
Reason: Faustus’s desire to exceed human limits without faith leads to
eternal loss. (Theme)
99. What do the scholars find after Faustus is taken by the devils?
✔️ (A) His body torn and scattered
(B) Nothing at all
(C) A burning contract
(D) His books destroyed
Reason: The scholars find Faustus’s mutilated body, confirming his
damnation. (Final scene)
100. What final advice does the Chorus give to the audience?
(A) Study harder to avoid ignorance
✔️ (B) Avoid forbidden knowledge and submit to God’s
will
(C) Seek Helen-like beauty for immortality
(D) Pray to Lucifer for protection
Reason: The Chorus warns against aspiring beyond mortal limits and
disobeying divine order. (Epilogue)
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