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Latin Literatures of Medieval and Early Modern Times in Europe and Beyond: A millennium heritage
Edited by Francesco Stella
[Comparative History of Literatures in European Languages XXXIV] 2024
► pp. 639–645

Chapter 40
Faust’s medieval origins

The magician Faustus (or Faust, as he has been called since the eighteenth century), who enters a pact with the devil, is one of the most famous figures of world literature and can be said to symbolize the transition from the Middle Ages to the modern era. Even though the Faustus myth is genuinely modern, some medieval origins and predecessors can be identified. The gradual narrative formation of Faustus seems to be based on two literary and historical strands in particular, first the legends surrounding the renaissance magician and secondly medieval devil pact stories. Starting from the earliest sources, this chapter will delineate which characteristics are attributed to Faustus. Subsequently, both the differences and the similarities of medieval devil pact figures as precursors of Faustus will be analysed. In doing so, particular emphasis will be placed on the pivotal aspect of early modern Faust narratives, curiositas.

Keywords: historical faust/faustus, Faust’s medieval predecessors, curiositas, Renaissance magician, modernity, Pact with the devil, Simon Magus, Theophilus, Pope Joan, Goethe
Article outline
  • The “historical Faust” as a Renaissance magician
  • Faust’s predecessors: Medieval pacts with the devil
  • Faust’s modern thirst for knowledge
  • And yet: Faust as a figure of the Middle Ages
  • Note
  • References
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