Dr
Dr. Faustus Background Information:
Christopher Marlowe
Notes on Marlowe’s Renaissance Theater (1485-1660)
➢ Several kinds of plays were written and produced prior to the renaissance (1500s)
- Miracle and Mystery plays- told the stories of the bible
- Morality plays- Told people how they should live and die
Actors, Actresses (Otherwise known as Actors!)+Audience
➢ All roles played by men (as you probably know by now)
➢ Performers in close contact with the audience –some sat right up on stage
➢ Actors highly trained-could sing, dance, fight, fence, etc.
Audience loved the supernatural- ghosts, devils, witches, etc- as well as action, excitement, and gore. They could not read, but loved poetry, puns, and wordplay.
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Aristotle’s elements of Theater
➢ Based on his work as a Greek Dramatist in fifth century B.C.
➢ Aristotle’s six basic elements:
➢ (1) plot;
➢ (2) character;
➢ (3) diction (the choice of style, imagery, etc.);
➢ (4) thought (the character's thoughts and the author's meaning);
➢ (5) spectacle (all the visual effects);
➢ (6) song.
➢ Aristotle said tragedy, “Centers on a hero with a tragic flaw that ultimately causes the characters downfall. That fall leaves the audience with a sense of Catharsis.”
➢ “Hamartia” Tragic Flaw- A fatal flaw that causes the Hero’s undoing
Catharsis- A purifying or figurative cleansing of the emotions, especially pity and fear
Aristotelian Characteristics of Dr. Faustus
• He is “a man like us” often of high estate
1. Is he really like us, a regular guy?
2. How many of us have four doctorates?
3. What is his economic status? Is he of high estate?
• Hamartia/tragic flaw (fatal flaw, cosmic boo-boo)-
1. What is his tragic flaw?
• Evidence of suffering-
1. Does he suffer? Does he have control over it?
• Evidence of enlightenment-
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