Daffodil International University

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Department of English
Midterm Examination
Program: BA (Hons) in English
Semester: Summer 2020
Course Code: Eng 232
Course Title: Elizabethan and Jacobean Literature
Course Teacher with Initials: Asma Alam (AA)

Time: 3 Hours Full Marks: 25

1. Answer the following questions (Any Two) 7.5 × 2= 15

a) “I’ll burn my books!”- illustrate how the wrong path of knowledge acquisition, confirms the
down fall of Doctor Faustus?

b) Comment on the comic scene between Wagner and Robin keeping a connection to the bargain
scene of Faustus.

c) Describe how the influence of Renaissance is reflected in this work of Christopher Marlowe?

d) Suppose you are Doctor Faustus. What subject will you choose to expand your domain of
knowledge? Explain showing valid reason/s.

2. Write short notes on Any Two of the following topics: 5 × 2= 10

a) Icarus vs Doctor Faustus

b) Marriage of Doctor Faustus

c) Faustus vs the horse courser.

d) The Old Man

Don’t forget to write your NAME, ID and SECTION

 Name: Anika Farhin Ani
ID: 191-10-1945
Section: 46-A

Answer to the question no. 1 [C]

In the “Doctor Faustus” play the title character John Faustus upholds the
characteristics of a renaissance man. Several characteristics show the
spirit of him trying to push the boundary of knowledge throughout this
play.

At the very beginning of the play, we come across to the spirit of

adventure in the character of John Faustus. During the scene of his
study, he chooses a very unconventional subject which will help him to
learn something new and the risk in this process is very high. This kind
of untamed uplifted adventurous spirit is one of the key characteristics of
Renaissance influence. The Renaissance people loved the adventurous
life and they used to put their lives at stake to unveil the realm of the
unknown.

The never-ending thirst for new and interesting knowledge causes unrest
into Doctor Faustus. He gives his entire life in the pursuit of knowledge
and mastered every stream of knowledge. He still wants to seek more
knowledge that has not been revealed before anyone. This unstoppable
thirst for the new knowledge has been a big influence for the invention
of the renaissance time and is considered a major characteristic.
This thirst for knowledge deludes Doctor Faustus to choose necromancy
so that he can obtain heavenly knowledge through a forbidden path. He
disobeys the orders of God and seeks a prohibited stream of knowledge
without thinking about its consequences. This kind of disobedience
towards God and questioning heaven’s supremacy has been seen as key
characteristics in the renaissance period.
This pursuit for knowledge displays the high ambition of Doctor Faustus
which he wants to surpass the ordinary human limit to become an
extraordinary person.
As a renaissance man, he is preferring his desires above anyone else. He
seeks knowledge, precious elements, delicious foods to cherish his
earthly pleasures. He sells his soul for 24 years of immortality and
earthly pleasures. He wants to be the most powerful man on earth and
wants to be known as King of Kings. This individualism and
materialistic life approach is a renaissance characteristic that has been
exhibited through Doctor Faustus.
 Answer to the question no. 1 [A]

Doctor Faustus realizes his damnation and the true reason behind it and
his last dialogue of this play show that it was too late for him to have
that realisation.
In this play, we can see that Doctor Faustus at a very unrestful situation
as he seeks new streams of knowledge. Out of his boredom, he decides
to choose a very unconventional path of knowledge. He breaks all the
moral and religious boundaries to quench his knowledge thirst. He
chooses necromancy as the path of new knowledge and this dark
knowledge deludes him into admitting it as heavenly knowledge.
Despite repeated attempts of his moral teachings he ignores all the signs
and gets lured by the forbidden dark path of necromancy. He promises
his life with a blood oath and sinks into committing sins. Influenced by
renaissance spirits he disobeys God’s forbiddance and starts pleasing
himself with earthly pleasures.
The pursuit of knowledge causes moral degradation and Faustus ignores
his sins. It all started with the thirst for knowledge but it leads him into
committing the seven deadly sins which he was unaware of. His soul
gets conquered by Pride, Greed, Lust, Gluttony, Wreath, Envy and
Sloth.
At the end of his life, he realises his doom and starts panicking. In his
last soliloquy, he tries to put the blames on different characters like
parents and Lucifer. In this panic, he forgets the fact that devils only
capture the soul which denies God’s authorisation and they do not
influence by themselves.
At the very end of this play, he realises that it is only him that should be
blamed. His thirst for unlimited knowledge and his choice of crooked
path to achieve it has led him to the ultimate damnation.
 Answer to the question no. 2 [A]

In the story of Icarus, he wanted to fly. His father Daedalus

made waxen wings and forbade him not to fly too high. Icarus
spread his wings to fly into the sky but out of curiosity he forgot
his father’s forbiddance and went flying too close to the Sun.
His desire cost him his downfall as the waxen wings melted in
Sun and he crashed into the sea.

Doctor Faustus also had a similar fate like Icarus. Faustus

wanted to know more and more and for his thirst for knowledge,
he forgets the limitation set by God. Faustus chooses a crooked
and dark path of necromancy to achieve unlimited success at a
very short time. He forgets the moral guidance and heavenly
forbiddance in this process. He commits all the sins which cause
his ultimate downfall. Both of the characters forgot their
limitations and tried to surpass the reach of man. Their attempt
only resulted in tragic endings.
 Answer to the question no. 2 [D]

The Old Man is an element of a morality play. He is a

personification of the Christian faith. This character is displayed
as an old man as Christianity is an old faith. He arrives before
Faustus to counsel him to reunite with God. Faustus follows a
dark path of necromancy and the old man tries to stop Faustus
doing that sin. He is the last hope of Faustus to admit his sins
and repent before it is too late. The old man alarms Faustus
about the charm and wit of the devilish path. Out of distress
Faustus even tries to murder the old man but stops. The old man
appeals to Faustus to return to the path of God as there is still a
chance of repentance. The hope of Angel showering blessings
and mercy still exists. The old man is the last hope of Faustus
who came at the scene where Faustus attempts to commit the
most terrible sin. This sin ensures his downfall. As soon as the
old man disappears the chances of Doctor Faustus getting mercy
evaporates. Even God gives up on him.