The document summarizes the legend of Faust, a learned German man who makes a deal with the devil, trading his soul for knowledge and power. It discusses the historical Faust from the 15th-16th century and how his story was popularized in the play Faust by Goethe. It also briefly describes some film adaptations of Faust including Murnau's 1926 silent film version known for its visuals and interpretation of the characters Faust, Mephistopheles and Gretchen.

1. By
Nick Eimers

2.  May be inspired by Johann George Faust
• Although this may not be his real name
• Lived During the Renaissance
 Magician
 Alchemist
 Astrologer
• Probably a Real Person
 Likely Born 1400~1500 AD
 Picture painted in 1700’s*
 *Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

3.  Dr.Faust, an eminent, virtuous scholar
grows bored with his life
 Makes a deal with a demon for
knowledge/magic/skills in exchange for his
soul
 Now called a “Faustian Bargain”
• Etching of Faust by Rembrandt*
 *Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

4.  Faust uses his powers to seduce an
innocent girl (Gretchen)
 Gretchen is slowly led astray by Faust
• Faust’s actions lead to her death
• She is forgiven for her trespasses by Heaven

5.  After Gretchen’s Death, Faust Wanders
• Dabbles in Politics
• Misuses/Abuses his powers
• Slowly but surely loses his virtuousness

6.  Eventually Faust’s contract expires
• Sometimes a set time period
• Sometimes a condition
 “Finding True Happiness” etc.
 Faust is either Redeemed or Damned
Left,
Gretchen
being saved
while in
prison, right is
Mephistophel
es appearing
before Faust.

7.  Lived 1749-1832
• Came from wealthy family
• Well educated
 Studied Law for a period of time
 Eventually Focused on Literature
• Poet, Novelist, Scientist, Critic,
• Painter, Government Official
 Prodigious Author
• First Work was “The Sorrows of Young Werther”
 Moved many so deeply they committed suicide

8.  Written as a Two Part Play
• Non-continuously wrote it over 60 years
 Considered his Magnum Opus
 Defining Work of German Literature
 Perhaps the most well known all the
interpretation of Faust

9.  Heinrich Faust
• Searching for knowledge
 Desires what reason cannot bring him
 Leads to his pact with Mephistopheles
• At end believes self to be unworthy of Heaven (guilt)
 Is absolved, saved by Gretchen’s pleading on his behalf
 His constant striving for Philosophical perfection is also taken into account
 Mephistopheles
• Similar to Devil in the story of Job
 Makes bet with God over Faust’s soul
• Agrees to serve Faust until he attains the zenith of happiness
 Gretchen
• Pure at beginning, seduced and led astray
• Murders an infant, and is set to be executed
• Rejects Mephistopheles and Faust, is redeemed
• Pleads for Faust’s soul at end

10.  Murnau famous for directing Nosferatu
 Differences from Goethe
• Faust is an elderly Alchemist
 He is frustrated by an inability to stop a plague
 He is tempted by Mephisto
 He is lead farther and farther from his original virtuousness
• Mephisto (the Devil) Makes a Bet with an Archangel
 He bets he can temp Faust
 The stakes are control of all mankind
 Mephisto sends the plague that initially frustrates Faust

11.  Renowned for it’s impressive visuals
Above: Mephisto ominously appears
above the town.
Right: Mephisto Tempts Faust with youth
by showing him what he could look like.

12.  Mephisto grants Faust his youth again
• Faust seduces Gretchen as in Goethe
• Mephisto turns Gretchen’s Family against Faust
 Mephisto Kill’s Gretchen’s Brother and frames Faust
 Gretchen has a child with Faust
• Mephisto tricks her into killing it
• Gretchen is burned for her crime
• Faust throws himself on the pyre, dying as well
• Both are saved, as loved has triumphed

13.  Spawned Countless Adaptations
• Theater, Books, Movies, Television, Comics, etc.
And don’t forget
about music!
The Fall
Streetlight Manifesto
Moonspell

14.  Mocked Occasionally even in Goethe’s Time
• And still referenced today

15. Thanks For Reading!

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<http://www.celtoslavica.de/chiaroscuro/films/faust/faust.html>.
3. Gillies, Alexander. "Goethe's Faust: An Interpretation." . N.p., 1957. Web. 16 Sep
2012. <http://wolfenmann.com/gillies/faust-interpretation-1.html
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<http://xkcd.com/501/>.
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von Goethe” “Works Based on Faust”,”Faust (1926)” Retrieved 16 Sep 2012