Chemnitz University of Technology Anglistische Literaturwissenschaft/ English Literature(s) Department   English Literature(s)     SS 06     Doctor Faustus

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Proseminar: Christopher Marlowe: Doctor Faustus

Course Description

In this course we will study Christopher Marlowe’s famous Tragicall History of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus, written and performed about 1592. In Faustus we shall find a character ripe for self-deception. In the Bible he finds “The reward of sin is death“ (Romans 6:23), and “If we say that we haue no sinne / We deceiue our selues” (1 John 1:8). His logic concludes “… we must sinne, / And so consequently die”, and thus “Faustus bids divinity adieu and turns to black magic” (W.L. Godshalk 1974: 173).
Following Faust’s fate under the auspices of black magic we shall find a host of subjects of interest. Among them will be plot overview, analysis of Faustus as the major character next to the Old Man, low-life characters, motifs, images, key words, symbols. Further interesting themes will be those of unsatisfied love, religious conflict and irony (New Testament, blasphemy), and to a certain extent revenge. Marlowe’s language will be analysed very closely. With his mastering of verse, which sometimes drops into prose, with his images, recurring key words and hyperboles, he will be recognised as an innovator.

Required Reading:

B-Text of Doctor Faustus in any scholarly English edition, e.g. the annotated edition prepared by Sylvan Barnet in the Signet Classic Series (ISBN 0-451-52779-8, price c. 5,00 EUR)

Prerequisites:

Einführungskurs "Introduction to the Study of Literature"

Requirements for credit:

regular attendance, oral presentation, term paper

Registration:

To register, please send an e-mail to Hans-Joachim Hermes before 15 March, stating your name, semester standing, and subjects.

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