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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. Which Biblical character is apparently present on Walpurgis Night?

2. What promise does Mephistopheles extract from Faust before taking him to meet Gretchen?

3. What is Gretchen attending during "A Cathedral"?

4. From what play are many of the characters in "A Walpurgis Night's Dream" drawn?

5. What is the purpose of the item Faust gives Gretchen at the end of "Martha's Garden"?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is "A Walpurgis Night's Dream" and what purpose does it serve?

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

3. Why must Faust lie to Martha about her husband?

4. Discuss the significance of Gretchen fearing Mephistopheles at the end of the play.

5. What comprises Valentine's final moments alive?

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

7. What torments Gretchen at the cathedral and why?

8. Why is Gretchen praying to the Virgin Mary?

9. Describe the seduction of Gretchen up until the end of "A Forest Cavern."

10. Why is Gretchen is prison?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is meta-theater? How is meta-theater used in "Faust"? Describe the scene or scenes in which this concept is present and how it affects the characters. What purpose does it serve, and how does it frame the rest of the play? Does it alter the mood of the play at all? If so, how? How do these moments of meta-theater change the readers perceptions of the play?

Essay Topic 2

In a brief essay, discuss the roles of magic and witchcraft in "Faust." Develop a clear thesis statement and cite specific examples from the text to support your answers. Points that should be considered in this essay include (but not exclusively) the following: Faust's dabbling with magic, "A Witch's Kitchen," the celebration of Walpurgis Night, and Mephistopheles. Be sure to consider the symbolism behind these sections, as well as how magic and witchcraft help develop certain characters and themes within the play.

Essay Topic 3

How does Faust fit the definition of a tragic hero? What is his hamartia? How do his actions cause the tragedies of this play. Discuss these questions (though not exclusively) in the form of an essay. Compose a clear thesis statement and cite specific examples from the text to support your answers. Be sure to define the terms "tragic hero" and "hamartia," as well as discuss how Faust also subverts the trope of a tragic hero.

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