MRS

MRS FAUST
FAUST
The story of the German philosopher, Dr.  
Faust [or Faustus] who sold his soul to the 
devil in order to enjoy a life of power, riches 
and knowledge, is famous throughout Europe 
and has been told in different ways.  The 
most famous re­tellings are through plays ­ 
Goethe wrote his version of ‘Faust’ in 1832, 
while Christopher Marlowe’s Dr.  Faustus 
was finished in 1616.  The original stories on 
which the plays were based were medieval 
and show Faust as a wandering conjurer.  In 
the original stories and the Marlowe play 
Faust is torn to pieces at the end, while devils 
carry off his soul; however the Goethe play 
shows him being given the grace to repent.

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 MRS
MRS FAUST
FAUST
The poem is a clever monologue built on 
word play and rhymes and a rhythm that 
rattles through Faust’s life at breakneck 
speed. 
t-
g s firs
in .
i r s t th F aust ts, Starts with student romance, Uni study, 
F e d n
m arri s stude p, marriage but "No kids".  Already reader 
I a u
e met p, split p, sees that material things matter most.
W
c ked
u
c h ed u house,
sh a hi t a
d e up, a g e on ally,  
ma tg emi
c
mor d is
a
got shed a c a
k i ds. H ers. H
ri . No es.
flou A. Ph.D athrob
M b
BA. owelled
t
Two

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 MRS
MRS FAUST
FAUST
Turning Point in the poem
g.
v enin
's e What happens to pace here?
e. ter
mor newin
a n te d
l ate o y.
He
w
h ome s s tud How does she achieve this?
me n. hi
I ca t eate a i r s in
n' pst
had as u . Contrast pace with next
st w . ke, wed
Fau eeting ar smo ot allo stanza.
m cig y, n er
in a l led ly sex he oth
e
I sm h, odd t and t Effect?
lis s
hel rd Fau
e a d.
Ih alou
g h
lau What meaning does Duffy
achieve by rhyming 'allowed'
and 'aloud'

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 MRS
MRS FAUST
FAUST
In Marlowe's play, Faust is described as
e! e, having ridden a dragon to study the stars.
? E ncor al, Pop d
ugh n He also challenges God and makes a fool of
Eno s C ardi od; o f soun
a G d the Pope
st w e than spee
Fau r t h e
mo han
Marlowe also shows Faustus using his
knew aster t e, power for childish pranks
flew
f
h e glob
nd t
arou d; n, Explore the effects
nc he h e moo
l u t e; and meanings Duffy
l k e d on d in on e sun.
wa hole a on th achieves through
l f ed, an rhyme, pun and word
g o
a t Hav
f - choice in these
lit a h u nch
s, stanzas.
a ck ed a t bomb
nb ar
The ed in sm
st
inve ms, ms. . How does she both link and
in h
ar lt i n ar got out contrast these stanzas?
e a p ,
td ee
Faus got in d
t ,
Faus t farms
h et
Bou
g
s h eep
,
I n tern
ed the p.
clon surfed B o -Pee
t ed
Faus e-mind
li k
for

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MRS
MRS FAUST
FAUST
Duffy brings in Faust's own voice to this poem -
something she rarely does.
Compare and contrast Faust and Mrs Faust's
reactions to the Devil's taking of Faust's soul.

What impression is Duffy presenting about:

• The lack of spiritual value
• consumer society
• late 20th Century and early 21st Century
Western society?