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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. Who does Medea plan to take revenge against?

2. What has Creon's experience been with showing mercy?

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

4. What prevents Medea from returning to her homeland?

5. What does Medea think about the way women are treated by men in Greece?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Why does Jason think his life is over?

3. Do you think Medea gains or loses sympathy during her scene with the messenger? Why?

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

5. Why is it significant that Medea is overcome with tears when she puts the children's hands into Jason's?

6. What is the purpose of the chorus ending the play by commenting on the mysterious ways of the gods?

7. Is there merit to Medea's final justification to the chorus about why she must kill her children? Why or why not?

8. What is significant about the way Creon encountered the poison?

9. Why do you think the chorus is made entirely of Corinthian women?

10. Medea is clearly a very proud character, so what do you think motivates her to beg Creon on her knees for more time before being forced into exile?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Medea is an unusual character for her time, particularly given that she seems to control the atmosphere around her and is certainly in control of the action of the scenes she is in. Examine the power dynamics between Medea and the other characters in the play. Use specific details of Medea's relationship and power struggle with at least three other characters.

Essay Topic 3

Explain how "deus ex machina" is used in classical Greek plays. What is the purpose of the mechanic? How common is it? Why would an author choose to use this mechanic?

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