Medea Gender Roles & Theme Poster Project Summary: In Euripides’ Medea, the protagonist [Medea] abandoned the gender roles of ancient Greek society. Medea defied perceptions of gender by exhibiting both "male" and "female" tendencies. She was able to detach herself from her "womanly" emotions at times and perform acts that society did not see women capable of doing. However, Medea did not fully abandon her role as a woman and did express many female emotions throughout the play. Objectives: Explore the context of Greek male and female gender roles (theme). List examples of gender roles. Analyze how Medea breaks traditional roles and how that impacts the audience. Create a presentation to teach peers and prepare for end of Medea unit test.

Nurturing / Life Giving Rational (less emotional) List of Male and Female Roles within Medea to look for… Male Roles Female Roles Forceful Nurturing / Life Giving Willful Modest / Dependent Rational (less emotional) Self Pitying Proud / Boastful Emotional Violent Jealous

Consider Jason’s argument against Medea. Background Information Consider Jason’s argument against Medea. “A savage, bristling nature can do such harm, impossible to deal with.” (emotional) “but you could not give up your folly” (jealous vs. rational) “Like a skillful captain of a boat, run out from under your noisy squall of words.” (self pitying, emotional) “Isn’t that like a woman? You believe while bed is right that everything is right, but if you’re left alone between the sheets, you treat your nearest and dearest friend as your worst enemy.” (jealousy) Euripides sides with Medea because he disagrees with the double standard here.

Consider Jason’s argument against Medea. Background Information Consider Jason’s argument against Medea. Euripides sides with Medea because he disagrees with the double standard here.

Rubric 2 quotes + 2 explanations showing Medea as Woman _______________ (10 points) 2 quotes + 2 explanations showing 2 Gender reversals Medea as man ___ Analysis paragraph detailing how Medea breaks the stereotype of being a woman. Analysis needs to include group opinions about whether Medea seems to exhibit more male or female traits with explanations as to why. This paragraph must also include your thoughts about how you think the audience would have reacted to such a character. (15 points) Illustration of 2 images involving a conventional gender role and a gender reversal At least 3 well thought out connections/comparisons to present day female heroes (chart, graphic organizer or paragraph). Is Medea more similar or different than these characters?

Medea Gender Analysis Paragraph Gender Roles and Medea Medea as a Woman Medea as Man “Quote-------------------------------------” Explanation__________________ “Quote-------------------------------------” Explanation__________________ “Quote-------------------------------------” Explanation__________________ “Quote-------------------------------------” Explanation__________________ Connections Medea Gender Analysis Paragraph Medea Hero 1 Hero 2 Hero 3 Hero 4 Analysis__________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________