Which precursor of Shakespeare is noted for his play Doctor Faustus?

Which precursor of Shakespeare is noted for his play Doctor Faustus?

• A. John Webster
• B. Ben Jonson
• C. Christopher Marlowe
• D. William Shakespeare

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is identifying who wrote Doctor Faustus and understanding how that author fits in the development of English drama. Christopher Marlowe is the playwright behind Doctor Faustus, a bold tragedy that tackles big questions about ambition, knowledge, and deals with the supernatural. This work helped set up a dramatic and linguistic direction—especially in the use of powerful, soaring blank verse and intense psychological conflict—that Shakespeare later built on in his own tragic plays. Because Marlowe’s work prefigures and influences Shakespeare’s approach to tragedy, he’s seen as a precursor to Shakespeare in this literary lineage. The other writers didn’t author Doctor Faustus—John Webster is known for later Jacobean tragedy, Ben Jonson for his comedies and classical plays, and Shakespeare himself wrote many works but not that particular play—so Marlowe is the best fit.

The main idea here is identifying who wrote Doctor Faustus and understanding how that author fits in the development of English drama. Christopher Marlowe is the playwright behind Doctor Faustus, a bold tragedy that tackles big questions about ambition, knowledge, and deals with the supernatural. This work helped set up a dramatic and linguistic direction—especially in the use of powerful, soaring blank verse and intense psychological conflict—that Shakespeare later built on in his own tragic plays. Because Marlowe’s work prefigures and influences Shakespeare’s approach to tragedy, he’s seen as a precursor to Shakespeare in this literary lineage. The other writers didn’t author Doctor Faustus—John Webster is known for later Jacobean tragedy, Ben Jonson for his comedies and classical plays, and Shakespeare himself wrote many works but not that particular play—so Marlowe is the best fit.