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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Creon, despite his actions, believe compassion leads to?
(a) Popularity.
(b) Happiness.
(c) Suffering.
(d) Revenge.

2. What are the women of this play communally struggling against?
(a) The balance between independence and homemaking.
(b) The prejudices against women in ancient Greece.
(c) The desire to kill men for their betrayals.
(d) The ability to be a good mother while having to work.

3. What is the Tutor's belief about people?
(a) They want to find personal peace at whatever cost.
(b) They generally are just trying to get along without trouble.
(c) They all love themselves more than others.
(d) They are good at heart and want to help others.

4. What would the chorus like Medea to do when they first arrive?
(a) Come out so they can comfort her.
(b) Go back to her homeland and leave her children behind.
(c) Find a way to revenge herself against her husband.
(d) Stop crying and tend her children.

5. Why does the Nurse send the children inside after hearing the Tutor's news?
(a) She is afraid Medea may take her anger out on them.
(b) She wants some time alone with the Tutor.
(c) It is time for their baths before supper.
(d) She doesn't want them hearing more gossip about their parents.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does the chorus express about Medea's anger toward Jason?

2. What supernatural ability is Medea said to have?

3. What theme, central to the play, does the chorus frequently reiterate?

4. Why does the author emphasize several times that Medea is a "stranger in a strange land"?

5. Why does Jason say Medea is lucky?

Short Essay Questions

1. Knowing her plans for her children, why do you think Medea asks Jason to beg Creon to allow them to stay?

2. What does the argument between Jason and Medea reveal about their marriage?

3. How does the King of Corinth model the theme of selfishness that Euripides introduces in the first scene?

4. Why does Aegeus say Medea must make it to his kingdom on her own?

5. Why would Medea believe that Jason was embarrassed by her?

6. What makes Medea's comment about Jason living as a nobody particularly cutting?

7. What similarities are evident in the characters of Jason and Medea?

8. Why do you think Euripides introduces the Delphi oracle into the story?

9. Why do you think Medea lies to Jason when he returns with the Nurse?

10. Why does the chorus have pity for the princess? Is it justified by the text?

(see the answer keys)

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