Faustus Context

Question 1

cosmology

Answer 1

• ptolemaic system out, copernicus and galileo in
• the earth was no longer the centre
• central focus on humanity shifted, we became less ‘important’

Question 2

renaissance religion

Answer 2

• renaissance humanism + power of human potential
• protestant reformation, challenging catholic beliefs
• art + religion collided in michelangelo, bringing religion further into society

Question 3

ideology

Answer 3

• higher idealisation of individuality
• more focus on the value + dignity of the human condition
• lean towards secularism

Question 4

renaissance drama

Answer 4

• plays utilised more neutral human themes, eg. philosophy, politics, love, beauty, art
• characterisation became more complex + layered, characters more morally + psychologically ambiguous
• blank verse, soaring + profound exploration of human thought

Question 5

mediaeval drama

Answer 5

• used by the church didactically for the illiterate population
• heavy use of allegory and personification
• miracle plays, liturgical plays, didactic plays, mystery plays, etc