1. Classical Theatre Greece II

2. Reading Check! What characters are present in Episode II? List at least two out of the threeWhat characters are present in Episode II? List at least two out of the three Who said “I must, it seems, practice my rhetorical skills, and, like the skillful captain of a ship, shortening my sails, outrun the blasts of your tongue-lashing, woman”?Who said “I must, it seems, practice my rhetorical skills, and, like the skillful captain of a ship, shortening my sails, outrun the blasts of your tongue-lashing, woman”? What is offered to Medea in Act II?What is offered to Medea in Act II?

3. Divorce Court Groups of three: Jason, Medea, and JudgeGroups of three: Jason, Medea, and Judge Who deserves money from whom?Who deserves money from whom? Who is right? Who is wrong?Who is right? Who is wrong? Each side will argue case using at least five lines from MedeaEach side will argue case using at least five lines from Medea

4. Episode III Lines 623-660Lines 623-660 1) Medea hopes that the gods will make this a marriage Jason will soon regret. What does she mean?1) Medea hopes that the gods will make this a marriage Jason will soon regret. What does she mean? 2) The chorus, a group of Corinthian women, pray that they will never be without a homeland, like Medea. Why does Medea not have a homeland?2) The chorus, a group of Corinthian women, pray that they will never be without a homeland, like Medea. Why does Medea not have a homeland? 3) The chorus condemns he “who does not treat his loved ones honorably… He will never be a friend of mine.” Do people like this still exist today? To whom is the chorus referring?3) The chorus condemns he “who does not treat his loved ones honorably… He will never be a friend of mine.” Do people like this still exist today? To whom is the chorus referring?

5. Episode III Lines 663-708:Lines 663-708: 4) Aigeus is the king of a nearby city-state, Athens, named after the goddess of war and wisdom, Athena. Do you think this man will help Medea?4) Aigeus is the king of a nearby city-state, Athens, named after the goddess of war and wisdom, Athena. Do you think this man will help Medea? 5) Medea explains, very plainly, the situation at hand. Why is she so open with her tragedy?5) Medea explains, very plainly, the situation at hand. Why is she so open with her tragedy? 6) What do you think Aigeus will do in light of this information about Medea and Jason?6) What do you think Aigeus will do in light of this information about Medea and Jason?

6. Episode III Lines 709-757Lines 709-757 7) How does Medea plan to cure Aigeus’s inability to conceive a child?7) How does Medea plan to cure Aigeus’s inability to conceive a child? 8) Aigeus claims that he wants “to be free from blame in the eyes of my hosts here.” How does this tie in to what we know about Greek masculinity? Why might he not want people to see him helping Medea?8) Aigeus claims that he wants “to be free from blame in the eyes of my hosts here.” How does this tie in to what we know about Greek masculinity? Why might he not want people to see him helping Medea? 9) What kind of person is Aigeus? Why do you think so?9) What kind of person is Aigeus? Why do you think so?

7. Episode III Lines 758-791Lines 758-791 10) A common convention of early theatre is telling the audience what will come. Like many villains, Medea lays out her plan to a captive audience. Which line of her monologue is the signpost used to tell the audience that she’s going to start detailing her plan?10) A common convention of early theatre is telling the audience what will come. Like many villains, Medea lays out her plan to a captive audience. Which line of her monologue is the signpost used to tell the audience that she’s going to start detailing her plan? 11) Medea says in the ominous final line of this passage that she plans to kill her children. Do you think she really will? Why or why not?11) Medea says in the ominous final line of this passage that she plans to kill her children. Do you think she really will? Why or why not?

8. Episode III Lines 792-822Lines 792-822 12) How does the chorus of women react to Medea’s decision to murder her children?12) How does the chorus of women react to Medea’s decision to murder her children? 13) Why does Medea feel as if she has no choice but to kill her children?13) Why does Medea feel as if she has no choice but to kill her children? 14) Is that a good enough reason to kill them?14) Is that a good enough reason to kill them?

9. Episode III Lines 824-865Lines 824-865 15) Erechtheus is the mythical founder of Athens, who is also linked to Poseidon. Given Medea’s link to the sea and to Athens, why might the chorus allude to the characters in the play as “descendants of Erechtheus?”15) Erechtheus is the mythical founder of Athens, who is also linked to Poseidon. Given Medea’s link to the sea and to Athens, why might the chorus allude to the characters in the play as “descendants of Erechtheus?” 16) The chorus appears desperate to save the children from Medea’s vengeance. Do they agree with Medea’s choice?16) The chorus appears desperate to save the children from Medea’s vengeance. Do they agree with Medea’s choice? 17) Do you think the chorus will be able to convince Medea not to kill her children?17) Do you think the chorus will be able to convince Medea not to kill her children?

10. Episode IV Lines 866-907 Lines 866-907 1) Is Medea really repentant?1) Is Medea really repentant? 2) What are the great sorrows that are present, mentioned by the chorus?2) What are the great sorrows that are present, mentioned by the chorus? Lines 908-927 Lines 908-927 3) Jason says that Medea is taking “the action of an intelligent woman.” Is she intelligent?3) Jason says that Medea is taking “the action of an intelligent woman.” Is she intelligent? 4) Is Jason truly taking care of his children?4) Is Jason truly taking care of his children? 5) Do you like Jason? Why or why not?5) Do you like Jason? Why or why not?

11. Episode IV Lines 928-975 Lines 928-975 6) Why does Medea ask that Jason take and raise the children?6) Why does Medea ask that Jason take and raise the children? 7) Why does Medea SAY she is giving the princess gifts?7) Why does Medea SAY she is giving the princess gifts? 8) Why is Medea ACTUALLY giving the gifts to the princess?8) Why is Medea ACTUALLY giving the gifts to the princess? 9) Medea says that “to save [her] children from exile, [she] would give her life, not gold alone.” Is that true?9) Medea says that “to save [her] children from exile, [she] would give her life, not gold alone.” Is that true?

12. Episode IV Lines 976-1000 Lines 976-1000 10) The chorus refers to a “gold diadem” of doom. “Diadem” means crown. Where will the princess get this crown?10) The chorus refers to a “gold diadem” of doom. “Diadem” means crown. Where will the princess get this crown? 11) Why is this crown doomed?11) Why is this crown doomed? 12) Do you think the gods are okay with Medea murdering her children?12) Do you think the gods are okay with Medea murdering her children?

13. Episode v Lines 1001-1017 Lines 1001-1017 13) Why is Medea upset at the Pedagogue’s news?13) Why is Medea upset at the Pedagogue’s news? 14) What does she mean when she says that she “will send others home before that?”14) What does she mean when she says that she “will send others home before that?” 15) The Pedagogue says that Medea is not the only woman to be separated from her children. Does he sympathize with her at all?15) The Pedagogue says that Medea is not the only woman to be separated from her children. Does he sympathize with her at all?

14. Episode v Lines 1018-1080 Lines 1018-1080 16) Medea says that her “own daring has wrecked [her] life.” What has she done?16) Medea says that her “own daring has wrecked [her] life.” What has she done? 17) In lines 1031-1038, Medea could be discussing the children’s new life with their father and stepmother. What is she really talking about?17) In lines 1031-1038, Medea could be discussing the children’s new life with their father and stepmother. What is she really talking about? 18) Does Medea regret the decision to murder her children? How do you know?18) Does Medea regret the decision to murder her children? How do you know? Lines 1081-1125 Lines 1081-1125 19) The chorus says that “out of many women the number of us inspired with the gift of songs is small.” Were women usually involved with music and poetry during this time?19) The chorus says that “out of many women the number of us inspired with the gift of songs is small.” Were women usually involved with music and poetry during this time? 20) Who has died?20) Who has died? 21) Who killed them?21) Who killed them?

15. Episode V Lines 1126-1204 Lines 1126-1204 22) Medea wants to hear of how exactly the king and princess died. Why?22) Medea wants to hear of how exactly the king and princess died. Why? 23) When the princess sees the beautiful gifts sent to her by Medea, she changes her mind about the children. What kind of person is the princess?23) When the princess sees the beautiful gifts sent to her by Medea, she changes her mind about the children. What kind of person is the princess? 24) Did the princess die a quiet death, or a horrible one?24) Did the princess die a quiet death, or a horrible one? Lines 1204-1250 Lines 1204-1250 25) The princess is killed due to poison. How does the king die?25) The princess is killed due to poison. How does the king die? 26) The Messenger claims that “No human being is happy. Strike it rich and you are luckier than your neighbor– but happy, never.” Do you agree or disagree? Why or why not?26) The Messenger claims that “No human being is happy. Strike it rich and you are luckier than your neighbor– but happy, never.” Do you agree or disagree? Why or why not? 27) Medea says about her children that “even if you kill them still you loved them very much.” Do you think that’s true?27) Medea says about her children that “even if you kill them still you loved them very much.” Do you think that’s true?