Doctor Faustus - Quotation Quiz
Select 8 of 10 quotations.
For each of the quotes: (1) Identify who is speaking, (2) Identify the context of the quotation, and (3)
Explain the significance of the quotation.
1.
“Till swoll’n with cunning, of a self-conceit, /His waxen wings did mount above his reach /And
melting, heavens conspired his overthrow!”
a. Chorus
b. At the beginning of the play, the chorus informs the audience of what to expect.
c. The chorus tells the audience early on that Faustus has flourished, and this quote relates to
the rise of Icarus, and foreshadows Faustus’ inevitable fall.
2.
“I charge thee to return and change thy shape, /Thou art too ugly to attend on me. /Go, and return
an old Franciscan friar: /That holy shape becomes a devil best.”
a. Faustus
b. Faustus has summoned Mephostophilis for the first time.
c. Faustus has an unwillingness to see things as they evidently are, to see evil as evil.
3.
“Think’st thou that I who saw the face of God /And tasted the eternal joys of heaven /Am not
tormented with ten thousand hells /In being deprived of everlasting bliss? /O Faustus, leave these
frivolous demands /Which strikes a terror to my fainting soul!”
a. Mephostophilis
b. Faustus has just made a series of highly superficial demands for power/greatness.
c. Mephostophilis is agitated by these demands, and he warns Faustus, taking pity on him, to
be careful of his rash decision.
4.
“Had I as many souls as there be stars /I’d give them all for Mephostophilis. /By him I’ll be great
emperor of the world, /And make a bridge through the moving air /To pass the ocean with a band of
men; (…)”
a. Faustus
b. Faustus has just met with Mephostophilis for the first time, and he has asked for him to
return with Lucifer to sign away his soul for this great power.
c. This is significant because it demonstrates Faustus’ envy of power and greed, and the loss of
reason, and willingness to give up everything for this power.
5.
“And Faustus vows never to look to heaven! /Never to name God or to pray to Him, /To burn His
scriptures, slay His ministers, /And make my spirits pull His churches down.”
a. Faustus
b. Faustus had called on Christ after his promise to Lucifer for his soul.
c. The devils remind Faustus of his bargain with Lucifer and the allegiance he had made with
them. Faustus tries to reassure the devils that he is devoted to the dark side.
6.
“Blood! He speaks terribly. But for all that /I do not greatly believe him. He looks as like a /conjurer
as the Pope to a costermonger [fruit seller].”
a. Benvolio
b. Faustus has just freed Bruno and he is meeting the Emperor. Benvolio is told of Faustus’
arrival, but he is not impressed.
c. Benvolio dismisses Faustus’ greatness, and as a result, we see the first instance of Faustus’
pettiness. He will ultimately punish Benvolio for these remarks, and embarrass him in front
of the Emperor.
7.