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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 bargain does Medea strike with Creon?
2. Why does the Nurse think Medea will refuse to exit her home?
3. Why would Medea like the gods to place a mark on men?
4. Why does Medea promise she won't hurt Creon?
5. What stands in the way of Medea enacting her plans immediately?
Short Essay Questions
1. Why is Medea's position as an outsider in Corinth so important to her and the chorus?
2. Why is it significant that Medea is overcome with tears when she puts the children's hands into Jason's?
3. What are the primary differences between Jason and Medea during their argument?
4. Given that the audience would typically know the story before going to a play, why do you think the author chose to begin the play with heavy exposition?
5. What do you think the messenger means when he says the princess "smiled at the lifeless image of herself" in the mirror?
6. Medea comments that the only thing stronger than her sorrow is her fury. Is the author making a point here about women in general, or is this merely the character affirming the decision she has made?
7. Is there merit to Medea's final justification to the chorus about why she must kill her children? Why or why not?
8. Do you think, with the chorus being so sympathetic to Medea, that it undercuts her claims that her life is more difficult because she is a foreigner? Why or why not?
9. 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?
10. Is there any merit to Jason's justification of his behavior? Why or why not?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
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.
Essay Topic 2
Medea invokes the goddess Hecate as she formulates her plan for revenge. Examine why Euripides chooses to link this goddess with his protagonist, being sure to cover the following points; What is Hecate known for; why would Medea turn to this particular goddess; are there similarities between Medea and Hecate; does invoking this goddess alter how the audience views Medea?
Essay Topic 3
Medea's power as a sorceress is reinforced at several junctures throughout the play. Examine how her magical ability influences the believability and sympathetic qualities of the character.
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This section contains 1,202 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) |
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