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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What has Jason agreed to do while Medea and her children are in exile?

2. Whom does Jason intend to marry?

3. What stands in the way of Medea enacting her plans immediately?

4. What does Creon, despite his actions, believe compassion leads to?

5. Why does the Nurse think Medea will refuse to exit her home?

Short Essay Questions

1. To which character(s) is Aegeus a foil? Explain.

2. Why does Jason think his life is over?

3. Why do you think the author spends so much time focusing on the sounds of pain from Medea, rather than just the rage over her betrayal?

4. Does the Nurse find Medea sympathetic? Why or why not?

5. What makes Medea's anger and despair seem so untoward to the Chorus?

6. Why does the author make sure to establish the fact that women are treated poorly by men?

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

8. The ode from the chorus after Medea's monologue seems a bit misplaced, as though they are not speaking about Medea at all. What do you think is the purpose of this choral piece?

9. Why does Medea doubt her ability to trust Aegeus?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Medea has been a reviled character as long as the myth has been known, and yet Euripides clearly attempts to make the character sympathetic. Discuss the various methods the author uses to elicit audience sympathy for Medea, using specific details and examples from the text.

Essay Topic 2

Medea's decision to kill her children does not come easily, and she has a very intense monologue in which she debates her decision. Analyze the content of the monologue, and the justification for Medea's ultimate decision.

Essay Topic 3

Aegeus introduces the concept of an oracle to the play. Examine the role of the oracle and the important role this concept plays within the context of the play.

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