Quiz
Briefly summarize the main points of the
plot. What happens?
Is Faust gothic literature? Briefly explain
Goethe: Faust
why or why not.
Compare Wagner’s character to Faust’s.
Dr. Theresa Thompson What is one main difference between the
English 2130 two?
Fall 2008 Why does Faust say Mephistopheles will
not need a written contract?
Terms Sturm und Drang (Storm and
J.W. Van Goethe (1749-1832)
Verse: any rhythmical or Stress).
metrical composition. a revolt against literary
Poetry is a subset of verse
conventions--particularly ideas An important figure in Romanticism.
of the unities
Imagination: supreme mental faculty
Poetry is usually more Stressed a return to “nature”
imaginative, and has a Nature: sublime
“cult of genius”
Burke (1776) linked beauty to the finite and the sublime to
more intricate structure of Romantic Hero: Genius figure, the infinite.
patterns, symbols, usually male, incapable of Myth & Symbolism: correlate to nature’s emblematic
metaphors, etc. satisfaction, constantly striving language without one-to-one aspect of allegory.
Prose: anything written for things beyond human reach. Goethe spent 60 years writing Faust.
or spoken that is not Prometheus prototype. Began ~1770 and completed in 1832, just before his
Reckless, doomed and
verse.
death.
dangerous.
Drama: can rely on verse, Part I published in 1808.
Mysteriously brooding, bitter,
prose, or both. northern loner
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The Myth of Faust Some Significant Motifs
Original Myth
Faust was a wandering conjuror presumed to live in Faust as Romantic Hero
Germany ~1488-1541. Strives after the unattainable (685, 687, 712)
Faust was an intellectual who sold his soul to Mysterious, brooding loner (691, 709)
increase his own power.
Two souls struggle in his breast (700)
Faust fears death.
Goethe’s Faust: Very different Macrocosm v. Microcosm (685, 705, 715, 717)
“Prologue in Heaven” reconfigures the myth using the Resurrection (infinite) v. rebirth (finite) (692, 720)
Book of Job. Sublime Nature (infinite) v. art / magic (699, 716)
Mephistopheles, like Satan in Job, obtains permission to try
to effect the ruin of Faust's soul. (682) Freedom v. Slavery (703, 710, 724)
“Lord” is confidant that Mephistopheles will fail & Faustus will Word / mind / force / act (702, 719)
not lose his soul. (683)
Prologue anticipates the conclusion in Part II Bonds / rules / law / contracts (711, 713)
Drama
Drama usually is a literary work usually
intended for performance before an audience.
No narrator or narrative structure.
Reliance on Characters, Setting, & Dialogue to
communicate meaning.
Poetic Drama
Drama written entirely in verse.
Meant to be performed publicly.
Closet Drama
often written in verse.
meant to be read not performed.
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