Christopher Marlowe

Boredom, ambition and the usual man’s willingness to overcome his limits push famous scientist Faustus to reject traditional disciplines and even God in favour of necromancy.
 Seduced by dreams of glory and omnipotence, Faustus gives in to Mephistopheles’s temptations and signs a contract with no less than Satan himself: 24 years of knowledge in exchange for his soul.
 Distracted by devilish performances, travels around the world, beautiful past queens and pleasurable tricks, will Faustus succeed in saving himself?
 An old but modern story on Man’s thirst for power and knowledge topped with five rich extensions to contextualize the work and its author. 
 
 Teacher's Resources available online: Answer Key - Audioscripts - Summing-up Activities
 
 La noia, l’ambizione e la solita volontà dell’uomo di sfidare Dio spingono il famoso scienziato Faustus a firmare un contratto addirittura con Satana stesso: 24 anni di conoscenza in cambio della sua anima.
 Distratto da quadretti demoniaci, bellissime regine del passato e piacevoli scherzi, riuscirà Faustus a salvarsi?
 Una storia antica ma moderna sulla sete dell’uomo per il potere e la conoscenza, arricchita da approfondimenti utili a contestualizzare i vari personaggi e l’autore.

Characters

Chapter 1 – The thirst for knowledge

Extension: Progress, science and technology in the Renaissance

Chapter 2 – The pact with the devil

Extension: The real Dr Faustus

Chapter 3 – In Rome with Pope Adrian

Extension: Angels and demons

Chapter 4 – In Germany at Charles V’s court

Extension: Major and minor characters in Doctor Faustus

Chapter 5 – The punishment

Extension: Faustus in music

Summing-up activities

Glossary

5 The punishment BEFORE READING Chapter 1 Answer the questions. 1. How do you think Faustus will spend his last days of life? And the last 24 hours? 2. If you were Faustus, what would you do? 3. If you had Dr Faustus s destiny, what things would you be ready to sacrifice to change it? 2 Find the synonyms to these adjectives you will find in the next chapter. Adje ctive Synonym a. scary 1. enormous b. worried 2. clever c. witty 3. frightening d. immense 4. lustful e. weird 5. serious f. intellectual 6. scholarly g. solemn 7. anxious h. sensuous 8. strange 3 Predict what will happen in the chapter and justify your answers. a. b. c. d. e. f. Will Faustus see the good and bad angel again? Will Lucifer come and see him again? Will his university friends try and help him? Will Faustus play any more tricks on people? Will he summon up other famous VIPs from the past? Will he repent and ask for forgiveness at the very last minute? 70 

Dr The Faustus punishment Chapter 5 Faustus s twenty-four-year contract was coming to its end and the wise scholar was more and more worried about his terrible and imminent1 death. His faithful servant Wagner, who knew nothing of his master s pact with the devil, started noticing a few strange changes in his behaviour, but he couldn t understand the reason. He suspected that Doctor Faustus was seriously ill: after all, he had just written a will2, which could only mean that he was going to die very soon.  Faustus has just written a will and I m his only heir!  Wagner said to himself in wonder.  I can t understand why! Faustus is still young and he looks healthy and fit! Why should he worry about death? And, if he were going to die, would he want to go to parties every night as he s doing?  he asked himself. While he was reflecting in his room, the doorbell rang and Faustus entered with two of his university friends. He missed the intellectual atmosphere of his past youth and he wanted to enjoy a delicious meal and the pleasure of witty conversation with intelligent scholars. They discussed a lot, not only about intellectual topics, but also about lighter ones, for example about who the most beautiful woman in the world was. They all agreed, without any doubt, that Helen of Troy3 was the only possible winner.  Faustus,  one of the scholars asked him shyly,  could your powers bring her back from the dead only for us?  he asked.  Could you make our eyes witness her beauty?  Faustus smiled at his friends and replied,  I can t deny4 such a pleasure to my only true friends!  and he made a sign to Mephistopheles who, after a few seconds, reappeared in the room holding Helen s hand. 1. imminent: that is about to happen. 2. will: document which says who your possessions will belong to after your death. 3. Helen of Troy: (Greek mythology) the beautiful daughter of Zeus and Leda, whose kidnapping caused the Trojan War. 4. deny: to refuse to accept. 71 

Faustus, celebre scienziato, cede alla tentazione di conoscere e potere, firmando un patto con il diavolo. Ma riuscirà a salvare la sua anima?

Doctor Faustus

Level B1 • Pre-Intermediate - Collana RAINBOWS

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