Doctor Faustus
by Christopher Marlowe
A-Level English Literature
Revision Notes
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1 Doctor Faustus – A-Level English Literature Revision Notes
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2 Doctor Faustus – A-Level English Literature Revision Notes
Table of Contents
Context ................................................................................................................................... 5
Textual Problems ............................................................................................................................... 5
Summary ................................................................................................................................ 6
Characters............................................................................................................................... 7
Faustus ............................................................................................................................................... 7
Mephastophilis .................................................................................................................................. 8
Chorus ................................................................................................................................................ 9
Old Man ............................................................................................................................................. 9
Good Angel ........................................................................................................................................ 9
Evil Angel............................................................................................................................................ 9
Lucifer ................................................................................................................................................ 9
Wagner............................................................................................................................................... 9
Clown ............................................................................................................................................... 10
Robin ................................................................................................................................................ 10
Rafe .................................................................................................................................................. 10
Valdes and Cornelius........................................................................................................................ 10
Horse-courser .................................................................................................................................. 10
The Scholars ..................................................................................................................................... 10
The pope .......................................................................................................................................... 10
Emperor Charles V ........................................................................................................................... 10
Knight ............................................................................................................................................... 10
Bruno ............................................................................................................................................... 10
Duke of Vanholt ............................................................................................................................... 10
Martino and Frederick ..................................................................................................................... 10
Themes, Motifs, and Symbols ................................................................................................ 11
Themes............................................................................................................................................. 11
Sin, Redemption, and Damnation ................................................................................................. 11
The Conflict between Medieval and Renaissance Values ............................................................. 11
Power as a Corrupting Influence ................................................................................................... 12
The Divided Nature of Man........................................................................................................... 12
Motifs ............................................................................................................................................... 12
Magic, The Supernatural ............................................................................................................... 12
Practical Jokes ............................................................................................................................... 13
Symbols ............................................................................................................................................ 13
Blood ............................................................................................................................................. 13
Faustus’s Rejection of the Ancient Authorities ............................................................................. 13
The Good Angel and The Evil Angel .............................................................................................. 13
Important Quotations Explained ............................................................................................ 13
3 Doctor Faustus – A-Level English Literature Revision Notes