Today's session was a Feast of Faustus. The first six/seven minutes of the FATHER TED episode New Jack City was used to provide a contemporary example of religious satire and this episode was compared to the 'Pope Slapping' moment in Faustus. Class discussion considered the ability of comedy to be offensive and controversial. Students were asked to consider how Marlowe uses comedy to explore the same thematic issues that are offered in the more serious and dramatically intense opening scenes of the play.
Faustus is unique when considering the nature of the gothic as Marlowe explores serious issues through comedy. How does the use of comedy in Faustus allow Marlowe to explore issues associated with gothic literature?
The session moved on to discuss the comedy involving Robin and Ralph, Scene Ten at the Court of the Emperor, and the leg-pulling Horse-Courser moment. Students were asked to consider the symbolic symmetry of Scene 11. The Horse-Courser is ambitious and his arrogance results in his character receiving a humiliating punishment! Faustus anybody?
Our next conventional lesson will be a consideration of the crucial concluding scenes of the play and we will be making links between Shelley and Marlowe.
HOMEWORK: Read Frankenstein and Faustus. Next week students will have a series of coursework related tutorials.
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