Skip to content
Skip to main content
Free course

Christopher Marlowe, Doctor Faustus

Free statement of participation on completion
Christopher Marlowe, Doctor Faustus

What does Christopher Marlowe's Doctor Faustus tell us about the author and the time at which the play was written? This free course, Christopher Marlowe, Doctor Faustus, will help you to discover the intricacies of the play and recognise how a knowledge of the historical and political background of the time can lead to a very different understanding of the author's intended meaning.

Course learning outcomes

After studying this course, you should be able to:

  • read closely – analyse a passage from the play
  • examine genre – what kind of play is Doctor Faustus?
  • consider themes – what are the main themes or issues explored in the play?
  • read historically – what are some of the connections between Doctor Faustus and the historical period in which it was written?
  • read biographically – what, if any, insights does Doctor Faustus give us into the character and reputation of its author?

First Published: 09/08/2012

Updated: 30/04/2019

Skip Rate and Review