Key Quotations (Edexcel A-Level English Literature): Revision Notes

Key Quotations

Act 1

"Till, swollen with cunning, of a self-conceit, / His waxen wings did mount above his reach, / And melting heavens conspired his overthrow."

• The Chorus compares Faustus' ambition to the myth of Icarus, whose wax wings melted when he flew too close to the sun.
• This quote uses classical allusion (Icarus) and metaphor (waxen wings) to foreshadow Faustus' downfall due to his hubris and overreaching ambition.
• Key themes: Ambition, hubris, downfall.

"Why then belike we must sin, / And so consequently die."

• Faustus reflects on the inevitability of sin and death, contemplating the doctrines of predestination and free will.
• This quote uses rhetorical questioning and irony to highlight Faustus' struggle with theological concepts, setting the stage for his pact with Lucifer.
• Key themes: Sin, mortality, free will vs. predestination.

"What doctrine call you this? Che sera, sera / What will be, shall be! Divinity, adieu!"

• Faustus dismisses divinity and embraces the philosophy of fatalism as he turns to necromancy.
• The quote uses a dismissive tone and resignation, indicating Faustus' rejection of traditional religious values in favour of magic and knowledge.
• Key themes: Rejection of religion, fatalism, quest for knowledge.

Act 2

"Had I as many souls as there be stars, / I'd give them all for Mephistophilis."

• Faustus expresses his willingness to sacrifice multiple souls for the service of Mephistophilis.
• This quote uses hyperbole to emphasise Faustus' intense desire for power and knowledge, demonstrating his deep commitment to his dark pact.
• Key themes: Desire, sacrifice, power.

"Hell hath no limits, nor is circumscribed / In one self place, for where we are is hell, / And where hell is, there must we ever be."

• Mephistophilis explains the omnipresence of hell, suggesting that it is a state of being rather than a physical location.
• This quote uses paradox and existential reflexion to convey the idea that hell is a mental and spiritual state, reinforcing the consequences of Faustus' choices.
• Key themes: Hell, existentialism, consequences.

"O, by aspiring pride and insolence, / For which God threw him from the face of heaven."

• Mephistophilis recounts Lucifer's fall from heaven due to pride and insolence.
• This quote uses biblical allusion and moral teaching to highlight the dangers of hubris and the parallel between Lucifer's and Faustus' fates.
• Key themes: Pride, fall, moral warning.

Act 3

"Sweet Helen, make me immortal with a kiss."

• Faustus conjures Helen of Troy and desires immortality through her kiss.
• This quote uses romantic imagery and allusion to classical mythology, symbolising Faustus' continued pursuit of beauty and eternal life despite his doomed fate.
• Key themes: Immortality, beauty, illusion.

"Was this the face that launched a thousand ships / And burnt the topless towers of Ilium?"

• Faustus marvels at Helen of Troy's beauty, which led to the Trojan War.
• This quote uses rhetorical questioning and classical allusion to emphasise the destructive power of beauty and Faustus' fascination with it.
• Key themes: Beauty, destruction, fascination.

"Her lips suck forth my soul, see where it flies! / Come Helen, come, give me my soul again."

• Faustus longs for Helen's kiss to reclaim his soul, illustrating his desperate attempt to find redemption through beauty.
• This quote uses personification (soul) and romantic desperation to underscore Faustus' inner turmoil and longing for salvation.
• Key themes: Redemption, desperation, beauty.

Act 4

"When I behold the heavens, then I repent / And curse thee, wicked Mephistophilis."

• Faustus experiences moments of regret and blames Mephistophilis for his predicament.
• This quote uses internal conflict and apostrophe (addressing Mephistophilis) to reveal Faustus' fluctuating emotions and the weight of his choices.
• Key themes: Regret, internal conflict, blame.

"But Faustus' offence can ne'er be pardoned."

• Faustus believes his sins are unforgivable, reinforcing his sense of doom and despair.
• This quote uses absolute language and self-condemnation to highlight Faustus' belief in the irreversibility of his damnation.
• Key themes: Despair, unforgiveness, damnation.

Act 5

"Ugly hell gape not! Come not, Lucifer! / I'll burn my books—ah, Mephistophilis!"

• Faustus fears the approach of hell and contemplates destroying his books as a final act of desperation.
• This quote uses apostrophe (addressing hell and Lucifer) and exclamation to convey Faustus' panic and regret in his final moments.
• Key themes: Desperation, fear, regret.

"My God, my God, look not so fierce on me!"

• Faustus calls out to God in a moment of fear and guilt as his doom approaches.
• This quote uses direct address and repetition to express Faustus' last-minute plea for mercy and his realisation of divine judgement.
• Key themes: Fear, guilt, divine judgement.

"Cut is the branch that might have grown full straight."

• The Chorus reflects on Faustus' potential and tragic downfall, emphasising the waste of his talents.
• This quote uses the metaphor (branch) and reflective tone to underscore the tragic waste of Faustus' potential due to his hubris and poor choices.
• Key themes: Potential, waste, tragedy.