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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 is Faust awed by, according to the beginning of "A Forest Cavern"?

2. To which author do the characters in the chapter "A Walpurgis Night's Dream" belong?

3. For what reasons does Gretchen want Faust to go to a particular location in "A Prison"?

4. How does Valentine currently feel about Gretchen?

5. Why does Gretchen choose this particular person to pray to during "By a Shrine Inside the Town Wall, Night"?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What does Faust fear in regards to his relationship with Gretchen about Mephistopheles?

3. Describe Faust's vision of Gretchen.

4. Why is Gretchen is prison?

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

6. What torments Gretchen at the cathedral and why?

7. Describe Martha and Mephistopheles's interactions in "A Garden."

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

9. Describe the enormity of Gretchen's sorrows.

10. Who is Barbara, and why is she being discussed by Gretchen and Lieschen?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write a brief essay about the role of Faust as an "everyman." Develop a clear thesis statement, as well as a definition for the term "everyman." Apply the definition to Faust by using strong examples from the text. Explain how Faust's role as an everyman allows accessibility for the reader to identify and sympathize with the titular character, as well as reconciling this status with his more questionable actions.

Essay Topic 2

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 3

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.

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