Choruses - what is the importance of these speeches in 'Dr. Faustus?

Choruses - what is the importance of these speeches in 'Dr. Faustus?' The essential function of the chorus speeches are as a commentary, an omnipotent voice which observes Faustus's actions, clarifies his character and by foreseeing his change in fortunes, heightens the anticipation of the audience. Also, rather like dressing Mephastoples in a Friar costume, the chorus speeches are a practical device used by Marlowe to communicate aspects of the play which are simply impossible to perform on stage. Thus, they have particular significance from a 16th century perspective, as the theatre would not have had the elaborate lighting and stage sets to demonstrate a change in scenery as audiences are used to today. The chorus speeches are made at various times throughout the play, linking the dramatic scenes together. They are therefore crucial to the structure, as without them, the audience would not have the same sense of exactly how Faustus is using his powers as time passes or indeed, fully understand the progressing danger he is in. The opening chorus is essential is introducing the audience to Fausts's character, the themes of the play and to a certain extent the morals Marlowe intended to convey. By speaking directly to the audience, the chorus brings them into the play, laying down the foundations of the essential plot. Saying this, the opening lines are not about

  • Word count: 1338
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Christopher Marlowe

Christopher Marlowe A n short-lived English playwright and poet and is considered the first great English dramatist and the most important Elizabethan dramatist before William Shakespeare. Although his entire as a playwright lasted only six years. Born in Canterbury, England on February 6th 1564. A son of a shoemaker, a relatively baldy paid profession. Even so, Marlowe was well educated attending first the King's School, Canterbury. Then Marlowe going on to university studies at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. Much of the curriculum at Cambridge at that time involved the intensive study of theology and of ancient languages. While still a student at Cambridge, Marlowe travelled aboard on Government business from which information scholars conclude that he was probably spying for Sir Francis Walsingham's secret service. After his studies, he went to London in 1587 and took up the profession of playwright at which he became very successful with Tamburlaine the Great and its sequel, Tamburlaine the Great, Part II. He associated himself with the Admiral's Men a company of actors for whom he wrote most his plays. The dates of composition of Marlowe's plays are not certain, had he may have began writing while still at university. Doctor Faustus was probably written in the late 1580s. It has been suggested that Doctor Faustus was not written until 1592, when an English

  • Word count: 581
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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What do you see as the key features in the renaissance, in terms of its input on Elizabethan plays, and in what ways could Marlowe be said to be a typical renaissance figure.

What do you see as the key features in the renaissance, in terms of its input on Elizabethan plays, and in what ways could Marlowe be said to be a typical renaissance figure. The word renaissance means rebirth. It describes the period in Europe's history when people exposed the art and knowledge of the past, and added additional innovative exhilarating features of their own. Around 1500 A.D. new ideas began to become known. Artists such as Leonardo da Vinci looked back to ancient Greece and Rome for stimulation. Scientists such as Copernicus studied the world and disagreed with the church. There were also affluent merchants prepared to back new ideas and ventures. There were also various new ways of spreading knowledge, such as Gutenberg's then, recently invented printing press. I believe that humanist ideas had the greatest effect on the literature of the Elizabethan period. Renaissance Humanism is the spirit of learning that developed at the end of the Middle Ages with the revival of classical letters and a renewed confidence in the ability of human beings to determine for them-selves truth and falsehood. This has to be a key feature during this time as people were able for the first time to be authorized to think freely even though there may have been untold consequences for these sorts of actions. Marlowe in this way was definitely a emblematic renaissance figure as he

  • Word count: 972
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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'Compare the ways that Marlowe and Chaucer present the theme of sin in 'Dr Faustus' and 'The Pardoner's Tale'.'

Compare the ways that the two writers present the theme of sin in 'Doctor Faustus' and 'The Pardoner's Tale' Both 'Dr Faustus' and 'The Pardoner's Tale' seek to offer comprehensive views on both Christianity and its moral values. A particular emphasis in both texts is placed upon sin, and both the two eponymous characters, as well as the societies in which they live, seem to be incapable of halting their sins, or indeed redeeming them. Both Chaucer and Marlowe explore the theme of sin through several passages, one of which they have in common being their title characters. In 'The Pardoner's Tale', the Pardoner is shown immediately to be a dishonest character with very few moral values whatsoever. Chaucer's use of somewhat grotesque simile in his mere description makes us feel uneasy, with his hair 'as yellow as wax' hanging down 'like flax'. Later, when we are introduced to the principal aspects of his character, we find that he is dishonest, scheming and self-obsessed to the core. Moreover, he commits what the medieval world thought the greatest sin of all in that he is so proud of it. He tells us quite openly that his intentions are 'nought but to win [money], and nothing for correction of sin', and delights in recounting to the pilgrims how he is able to dupe his congregations into buying his pardons. The Pardoner's sin is presented very effectively to us as readers, in

  • Word count: 1843
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Comparative discussions between the First and Last soliloquies in Marlowe's Doctor Faustus.

Comparative discussions between the First and Last soliloquies in Marlowe's Doctor Faustus. Ans.: The two soliloquies, namely the first and last ones by Dr. Faustus in the beginning and in the end respectively, are for their structure and unmatched brilliance of poetry, extraordinary superb. These two, as considered by the critics, are instances of some of the most mature verses of Marlowe. These two soliloquies, in Aristotle's words, capture the man Faustus "in action." Especially in the last scene of the play the drama with the aid of the brilliant speech rendered by Faustus, marks the climax of the play. This is a soliloquy in the profoundest sense, since it isolates the speaker. These two soliloquies have considerable structural similarities. Both the soliloquies contain lines of iambic pentameter. Marlowe has used blank verse in both of these soliloquies. The first soliloquy contains sixty-three lines. The last one, in the other hand, contains fifty-five lines. The first soliloquy justifies the speech of the chorus made earlier depicting Doctor Faustus as a scholar. We find in the first soliloquy the Renaissance spirit in Doctor Faustus. Faustus, the legendary scholar, who has mastered over the disciplines of philosophy, astronomy, medicine, jurisprudence, etc. with all his attempts to expand his knowledge and power beyond the limits imposed by the medieval

  • Word count: 975
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Discuss how Marlowe presents Faustus at the beginning of the play

Discuss how Marlowe presents Faustus at the beginning of the play. In the opening of the play ‘Doctor Faustus’ Marlowe uses a range of techniques to introduce his protagonist character, Faustus. Marlowe’s primary technique is the prologue of the play which through performance by the chorus gives the audience a foresight into Faustus’ traits and glooming downfall. Throughout the initial scenes of the play Marlowe builds on the characterisation of Faustus through the dialect and significance differences to his fellow characters. Marlowe’s primary description of Faustus ‘his parents born of stock’ allows the audience to immediately relate to Faustus; as the use of ‘stock’ suggests an ordinary individual as the majority of Marlowe’s audience would have been, this would therefore have created an immediate empathy within the audience as they would have felt they could relate to Faustus themselves. In addition to this the use of Marlow highlighting the Faustus was ‘born of stock’ may be a device used to link ‘Doctor Faustus’ to a mystery/morality play, which within the Medieval period were extremely common and Marlowe’s audience would have been aware that the protagonist characters in such plays was an everyman a like Faustus. The association with such plays would also have created expectations within the audience for later features in the play,

  • Word count: 1195
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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