Tamburlaine is renowned for eliciting a wide range of reactions from his audiences. What was your impression of his character? Were you, like Theridamas, "Won with [his] words?" To what extent did you perceive him as cruel and barbaric, and at what moments did you find him most brutal? Is Tamburlaine a hero and a protagonist? Why or why not? Discuss the reactions Tamburlaine is intended to provoke. How are these reactions significant to Marlowe’s objectives in the play?

Marlowe’s Dr. Faustus (1594) also centers on a power-hungry character who evokes mixed feelings from the audience. Read this play and compare it with Tamburlaine the Great. How are the moral themes in both plays similar? How do they differ? What does Dr. Faustus suggest about an individual’s relationship with the universe? How does this differ from the implications in Tamburlaine the Great? How do the plays differ in style and structure? Which one provides more insight into contemporary society, and which would you prefer to see performed today? Explain your reasons.

Identify the key scenes in Tamburlaine the Great, including the most eloquent scene, the most daring scene, the pivotal turning point, and the scene most critical to establishing Marlowe’s central themes. Support your selections with examples and quotes, and explain your reasoning. Then, perform one of these scenes with your classmates. Consider the best way to portray the scene to convey its message, and think about which characters are most crucial and how to highlight their significance. What is the best way to deliver what Ben Jonson called "Marlowe’s mighty line?" How can you approach your performance to best express the play’s meaning? Use your answers to enhance your performance.

Tamburlaine the Great significantly diverges from the true history of the Mongol warlord, Tamerlane. Read a well-regarded history book about Tamerlane and discuss how this changes your perception of the conqueror. How does the modern view of Tamerlane differ from Marlowe’s depiction? How might Marlowe’s play differ if it portrayed Tamburlaine as he is described in contemporary histories? Support your answer with examples and discuss, more broadly, the objectives of historical texts and how they differ from those of historical fiction.