Doctor Faustus goes to Rome

"Doctor Faustus" Act 3 scene1

After reading this scene in which Faustus and Mephistopheles discuss how they are going to spend their time, make notes together on these questions:

1. What do we learn from the Chorus about Faustus' movements since he signed the Contract?
2. What does Faustus tell us he has been doing in his opening speech?
3. What motivates Faustus to go to visit Rome?
4. How is the Pope presented in this scene?
5. What does Bruno do in this scene? Why is he introduced?

Creative Critical Response

Having read a good number of your responses now, a few general points need addressing in your second draft:

1. Make sure you write as if you are a director with experience, confident that your adaptation is a good one and one you can justify for modern audiences
2. Imagine you will publish your commentary on a website, for example a Film, TV and Drama website about your production of "Hamlet" on film/TV
3. Make sure you refer carefully to how you think audiences will receive what you direct and why they might receive it this way
4. Try to refer to the audience and context of 1600 as a contrast (e.g. about politics or power)

There is lots of good writing on the go. Some redrafting with these in mind should help you produce a focused piece of work about an adaptation for a theatre- and film-loving audience.

You will have time for redrafting today.

Homework

1. Find out who was Pope/who were Popes at the time of the Council of Trent in the 16th century and when Faustus was being written and performed.
2. Redraft your Creative Critical Response.
3. Make further notes about your Exploratory Study focus - human desire in "Hamlet". Please see last week's post about this.

Hand in second draft of Creative Critical Response on 13th March 2009.

Image: St Pius V, Pope.