The faustian legend

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The faustian legend

Like his Christian biblical twin Antichrist, the folk legendary Dr. Faustus has exercised a remarkably tenacious hold on the Western (i.e. Euro-American) imagination, finding his way into folk tales, great literary drama, opera, novels, films, video games, Gothic music, and pornography. Even our verbal expressions have been influenced by this legend: we speak of people making "Faustian bargains" or having "sold out" or "selling their souls" when they make a personal or professional compromise. In addition, Faust's absolute power evokes the similar claims made in medieval Antichrist legends, and in some accounts Faust travels to heaven and hell, the otherworldly journey of classic apocalypse texts.

In our first readings, you will explore some of the legends related to this figure who sells his soul to the devil in exchange for power and knowledge. Next week we will read and discuss a Faust play by one of the monumental figures of German philosophy and literature, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. I have intentionally assigned brief readings this week in order to let you get "up to speed"; you should begin now to read Goethe's Faust, which is a longish text. 

The Faust legend is instructive of the ways in which definitions of "literature" and "folk tradition" or "high culture" (e.g. literature, opera) and "low culture" or "mass culture" or "popular culture" are often difficult to sustain. The legend inspired two great plays and two magnificent operas as well as several novels, while at the same time becoming a narrative motif in movies and television programs.

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Some definitions to begin with might be helpful.

First, "legend" is a term for a narrative that falls somewhere between myth and history, usually relating an account about one specific figure; usually legends are based on some vaguely historical figure. Originally, the Latin word legenda meant a brief biography of a saint, whose lives were read to medieval monks while they ate meals. Beowulf, King Arthur, and Robin Hood are legendary figures.

Second, "folk literature" is a term for usually pre-literate, oral performances of folksongs, folk tales, ballads, fairy tales, plays, proverbs, riddles, charms, and legends. Folk tales, for example, usually include ...

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