Doctor Faustus
by Christopher Marlowe

Doctor Faustus: Mood 1 key example

Definition of Mood

The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes in the reader. Every aspect of a piece of writing... read full definition
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes in the reader. Every aspect... read full definition
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes... read full definition
Mood
Explanation and Analysis:

The mood of The Tragical History of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus is tragicomic, with elements of both fearful horror and coarse levity interspersed throughout the play. Because the full title of the play directly tells the audience that its titular character will die, the crowd is tense from the start, fully aware that no matter what they are about to witness, this story will only ever end in misfortune. The first few scenes switch back and forth between seriousness and comedy in a somewhat jarring manner, keeping the audience on their toes and never fully allowing them to relax.