REVISE – Faustus’s rise

Read the lines spoken by Faustus and decide if they express his desires or fears.
1 First, that Faustus may be a spirit in form and substance. ________
2 Secondly, that Mephistopheles shall be his servant, and be by him commanded. ________
3 Thirdly, that Mephistopheles shall do for him, and bring him whatsoever. ________
4 First I will question with thee about hell. ________
5 Why, dost thou think that Faustus shall be damned? ________
6 Think'st thou that Faustus is so fond to imagine / That after this life there is any pain? ________

Choose the correct alternative to complete the text about the effect of the use of legal terms in the passage.
The use of legal language in the passage has several purposes. First, it underlines the ________ nature of Faustus's commitment. The pact with the devil becomes ________ agreement. Secondly, presented as a legal contract, the agreement takes on the nature of an exchange: Faustus's soul for ________. On the other hand, the legal language creates a contrast with the supernatural and diabolical nature of the pact.

Reorder the sentences to obtain a paraphrased version of T13 in your textbook. Write the correct numbers (1-8) in the gaps.

In exchange for these benefits, Faustus agrees to suffer eternal damnation in hell after twenty-four years. ________
Faustus believes hell is a myth or a mere superstition. ________
Mephistopheles asks Faustus if he understands the terms of the contract and intends to respect them. ________
Mephistopheles reminds Faustus of the consequences of his pact: eternal damnation in hell. ________
Mephistopheles explains that hell is not a specific place but a state of being. It is wherever he, the devil, resides. ________
The conditions of the contract are that Faustus will gain supernatural powers, Mephistopheles will become his obedient servant and will grant him unlimited wishes. ________
Faustus signs a contract with the devil, selling his soul in exchange for power and knowledge. ________
Faustus accepts the terms. Then he asks about the nature of hell. He seems to be wondering about the consequences of his actions. ________

Read the text and decide if the statements are true or false. Then look at the prompts in brackets and write some extra reflections in your exercise book. You can use the final text as revision material for your test.

Faustus, who represents the thirst for knowledge of the Renaissance man (Recall the spirit of the Renaissance as presented in section 3.12 of your textbook.), was consumed by a desire to know everything. However, even the knowledge acquired in a multitude of fields is not enough for him. He craves knowledge beyond human limits, pushing the boundaries of what is considered possible. Indeed, he wants to govern nature and death through the power of necromancy. (Recall the paragraph on the 'self-made man' as presented in section 3.12 of your textbook.)
For this reason, he signs a contract with Lucifer and as soon as it is sealed, he asks Mephistopheles, who according to the pact can be summoned by him according to his wishes, about hell and its whereabouts. (Refer to the passage and mention Faustus's wishes.)
The answer Mephistopheles gives is that hell isn't a place, but a state of mind. It's like a dark shadow that clings to your soul, tormenting you from within no matter where you go. This idea is modern because it focuses on how our own minds and feelings can create our own personal hell.
On the other hand, Faustus replies saying, 'I think hell's a fable', denying the existence of hell itself. This shows how deeply conflicted he is. He wants the power but doesn't want to believe in the price he has paid or is afraid to think of it. (Refer to Faustus's fears as shown in STEP 4.)