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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What must Faust promise in order to get Gretchen to accept and use the item he gives her in "Martha's Garden"?

2. When Faust has a vision of Gretchen on the night of the Walpurgis celebration, what does he see on her feet?

3. Who torments Gretchen while she is in church?

4. While dancing with the young one in "Walpurgis Night," what vision does Faust claim to have had?

5. Why was Gretchen forced to raise her now-deceased sister and take care of the house when she was younger?

Short Essay Questions

1. During "Martha's Garden," what does Gretchen admit to worrying about in regards to Mephistopheles?

2. Why does Mephistopheles keep trying to subvert Faust from examining his vision of Gretchen?

3. What purpose does "At the Well" serve in terms of story and character?

4. What happens to Gretchen at the end of "A Cathedral"?

5. After meeting Faust, how does Gretchen admit to feeling about him during "Gretchen's Room"?

6. Describe the enormity of Gretchen's sorrows.

7. What does Faust ask of Gretchen during "Martha's Garden" and how does she (and Mephistopheles) react to this?

8. What comprises Valentine's final moments alive?

9. What visions do Faust and Mephistopheles claim to have to their dancing partners?

10. What is ironic about Mephistopheles's statement that Gretchen is doomed?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the use of symbolism in "Faust" in the following format:

Part 1) The Easter celebration.

Part 2) The black poodle.

Part 3) The "crowning" of Mephistopheles in "A Witch's Kitchen."

Part 4) The jewels.

Part 5) Flowers.

Cite specific examples from the text to support your answers.

Essay Topic 2

How does Faust's innate skepticism of higher powers help lead to his downfall? How is this related to his agreement to Mephistopheles's bargain? In addition to his doubts about Mephistopheles's power, why does this lead Faust into a troubled relationship with God? How and why does Faust retain this skepticism throughout the play? What does this suggest about his character as a whole? Discuss these questions (though not exclusively) in a brief essay about Faust's skepticism while using strong examples from the text to support these arguments.

Essay Topic 3

How does Goethe use "Faust" to critique society? Discuss this in the following format:

Part 1) People's relationship with God.

Part 2) God and Mephistopheles.

Part 3) The role of the church.

Part 4) The town's rejection of Gretchen.

Part 5) "A Walpurgis Night's Dream."

Develop a clear thesis and cite specific examples from the text to support your answers.

(see the answer keys)

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