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AS and A Level: Christopher Marlowe

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69 AS and A Level Christopher Marlowe essays

  • Marked by Teachers essays 3
  • Peer Reviewed essays 1
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  1. Marked by a teacher

    Can Faustus truly be regarded as a tragic hero

    4 star(s)

    A very well written and well-constructed essay, which shows strong understanding of the conventions of tragedy and effectively places the play in its literary and historical context.
    The essay would…

    • Essay length: 1057 words
    • Submitted: 11/11/2005
    • Marked by teacher: (?) Val Shore 01/03/2012
  2. Marked by a teacher

    Explore the presentation of Faustus in the opening scenes.

    3 star(s)

    Appropriate general issues are raised here, but are often not supported by close reference and quotation, which are essential when writing about literature.
    More focus on the language of the…

    • Essay length: 1028 words
    • Submitted: 17/03/2004
    • Marked by teacher: (?) Val Shore 01/03/2012
  3. Marked by a teacher

    "Marlowe is not only a great poet but also a great dramatist. His speeches are not only impressive pieces of writing but are carefully designed to sound effective on a stage"

    The essay's strength is its attempt to focus closely on language, using a range of appropriate technical terms. However, the writer often struggles to give clear expression to the effects…

    • Essay length: 1103 words
    • Submitted: 19/04/2008
    • Marked by teacher: (?) Val Shore 01/03/2012
  4. Peer reviewed

    It has been suggested that Marlowe's audience would have seen Dr Faustus as a 'simply morality play' consider this view of the play using scene 5 as your starting point.

    3 star(s)

    The writer has indeed attempted to define and direct their answer at the question, however, especially in the early part of the essay, the answer is a little general, and…

    • Essay length: 1798 words
    • Submitted: 08/01/2004
    • Reviewed by: (?) cmas123 26/03/2012

  5. All characters within the story Doctor Faustus are lonely, and some confide to evil to relinquish their loneliness.

    • Essay length: 703 words
    • Submitted: 16/06/2012

  6. Dr. Faustus Essay. In Christopher Marlows seventeenth century play, Faustus, hubris leads to his own downfall.

    • Essay length: 1380 words
    • Submitted: 30/03/2012

  7. Marlowes original title was The Tragicall history of Dr. Faustus. To what extent do you consider Faustus a truly tragic figure?

    • Essay length: 1446 words
    • Submitted: 07/03/2012

  8. Dr Faustus is more morality play than gothic. How far does your reading of Act 2, scene 3 support this view?

    • Essay length: 1073 words
    • Submitted: 15/01/2012

  9. How does Faustus use the magical gifts that he receives?

    • Essay length: 968 words
    • Submitted: 21/02/2011

  10. 'Compare the ways that Marlowe and Chaucer present the theme of sin in 'Dr Faustus' and 'The Pardoner's Tale'.'

    • Essay length: 1843 words
    • Submitted: 28/06/2010
69 essays
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Five pieces of background knowledge that will help you write a well informed and persuasive essay on 'Dr Faustus'

  1. 1 Knowledge about literary influences, eg. medieval morality plays.
  2. 2 Knowledge about the historical context, in particular religious attitudes to hell and damnation.
  3. 3 Knowledge about dramatic conventions such as the purposes for which soliloquy is used.
  4. 4 Knowledge about the possibilities and limitations of Elizabethan stagecraft.
  5. 5 Knowledge about the philosophical debate on free will versus fate.

Common mistakes in 'Dr Faustus' essays

  1. 1 Writing a one-sided arguments – for example, by not presenting the case both for and against whether Faustus can be considered heroic.
  2. 2 Making a point but not supporting it by detailed textual reference.
  3. 3 Failing to distinguish between Dr. Faustus the play and Dr. Faustus the character by appropriate use of quotation marks or italics.
  4. 4 Failing to analyse the language carefully in order to explore how effects are achieved.
  5. 5 Lack of thought about the structure of an essay, resulting in short paragraphs and disjointed arguments.

Ensure that you know the meaning (and spelling!) of the following words and include them in your 'Dr Faustus' essays

  1. 1 Hubris.
  2. 2 Predestination.
  3. 3 Necromancy.
  4. 4 Redemption.
  5. 5 Salvation.

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Conclusion analysis

Good conclusions usually refer back to the question or title and address it directly - for example by using key words from the title.
How well do you think these conclusions address the title or question? Answering these questions should help you find out.

  1. Do they use key words from the title or question?
  2. Do they answer the question directly?
  3. Can you work out the question or title just by reading the conclusion?

  • Discuss the presentation of Faustus' inner conflict in Act 1 scene 5 of Doctor Faustus.

    "In conclusion we, as the audience, are clearly able to see that towards the beginning of Act 1 Scene 5, Faustus demonstrates his inner turmoil and uncertainty as to what is the right decision for him to make. His inner turmoil is presented primarily, through his monologues, which let the audience know what is happening in his mind, and the through the contrary manifestations of the "Good" and "Evil" Angels. The "Good" and "Evil" Angels symbolise the two extremes of his conscious thought and make it easier for the audience to see Faustus' confusion. By the end of the scene it is made clear that through the temptation of Mephastophilis, the terror of Lucifer and Belzebub and the lies of the "Evil" Angel, Faustus' soul will be contractually damned to hell and he does not have a hope of salvation."

  • Discuss the role of Mephistopheles - How much of a role does he play in Faustus' damnation? How does Marlowe complicate his character and inspire our sympathy?

    "In conclusion, Mephistopheles is perhaps the most complicated character in the play. Marlowe's character goes against the traditional beliefs of a medieval audience, but is a far more compelling figure. Not only does his cunning and determination lead to Faustus' damnation, but his own torment and irritation leads us to feel sympathy for him, perhaps even more than we do for Faustus."

  • Marlowes original title was The Tragicall history of Dr. Faustus. To what extent do you consider Faustus a truly tragic figure?

    "In conclusion, I belief that Faustus is a tragic hero because although he committed terrible sins he is merely guilty of being human with immoral urges. Dr. Faustus is a morality play, it illustrates to the audience how one should not behave but it also illustrates the temptations that are put to them. Faustus had great ability but he unfortunately channeled his abilities in the wrong fashion. A tragic figure, according to Aristotle should be of high status so he would have further to fall, the hero should bring his own peripeteia because of his hamartia; the audience would also most likely have pathos for Faustus, sympathy because Faustus, other than his fateful flaw is actually a likeable character. The audience should also appreciate Faustus's fear because they can relate to his fall from grace and finally a tragic hero must have a moment of anagnorisis. Faustus has all these qualities in him and hence this is the reason why I believe that Faustus is a tragic hero."

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