DOCTOR FAUSTUS: THE PROLOGUE

The chorus acts like a narrator, introducing the prologue to the audience, a traditional device of Greek Tragedy where they comment on the action that is about to take place. Written in Iambic Pentameter, a device whereby the poet uses ten syllables per line, with every second syllable stressed, the prologue helps to outline Faustus characteristics as an everyday man, as although born into a family ‘base of stock’, he succeeds in studying divinity in Wittenburg, a famour university in Germany, and was ‘graced with Doctor’s name’ Binory opposites are also used to  contrasts elements of heaven and hell, as Faustus pride and success will lead to his downfall through practicing ‘necromancy’, black Magic, and ‘falling to a devilish exercise’ and ‘matters of theology’, referring to religion which is a key element of the Gothic. The words ‘his waxen wings’ refers to the myth of Icarus, and becomes a symbol of ‘hubrous’ (pride) and the danger of overreaching the limits of man. The final line of the poem, ‘this the man that in his study sits…’, highlights how a normal man is drawn in by the devil due to the sin of pride.