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Medea (431 BC) Reading Packet
100 points
I. Greek Theater/Background Notes (use the provided space below to take notes over the in-class
Prezi)
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II. Vocabulary-define each of the following words in your own words
1. Lamenting
2. Wrought
3. Provocation
4. Abate
5. Deride
6. Rancorous
7. Malice
8. Mooring
9. Hawser
10. Gulled
11. Affronted
12. Indignation
13. Provision
14. Abominable
15. Quadruped
16. Unbridled
17. Supplication
18. Writhe
19. Slake
III. Terminology-these are some necessary terms to understand various pieces of the play.
CHORUS-The Chorus functions in a similar way to choruses in almost every other Classical Greek play.
A group of individuals speaks with one voice, one attitude and one belief as a representation of
community or society. In general, a Greek chorus offered commentary on the action, illuminated the
play’s themes, acted as confidantes to the central characters or a combination of any or all of these
practices.
In Medea, the Chorus of Corinthian Women performs all of these functions. They watch from the
sidelines and interject comments on the behavior of the characters. They offer thematic
enlightenment. Most importantly, they empathize with Medea’s situation; their comments personify
(represent) one of the play’s primary themes: the injustice of the behavior of men towards their wives.
PARADOS-The parados is chanted by the chorus along with the Nurse and Medea. (A parados is a
song sung by a Greek chorus as it first enters the theater)
STASIMON-A song of the chorus, continued without the interruption of dialogue
STROPHE-A part of a choral ode; movement of chorus while singing a strophe (Classical Greek
Drama)
ANTISTROPHE-A chorus in a Greek ode
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IV. Medea vs. Jason-Part I argument
Medea Vs. Jason
In the chart below, write the comebacks that Jason gives for each point that Medea brings
up during their argument from Act One. As you fill out the chart, consider whether or not you
think any of Jason’s comebacks are valid.
MEDEA
Remark
JASON
Rebuttal (Comeback)
(First Woman- In reference to
Medea) [Medea is] “There:
mourning for what you have
done.”
“Did you consider them when
you betrayed this house?”
“The world is a little closed to
me… by the things I have
done for you.”
“…your adventure would
have been dusty death if I’d
not saved you…”
In your opinion, who is the winner of this argument and why?
VALIDITY
Is this valid?
Explain.
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V. Reading Questions-answer the following questions as we read the play.
SETTING
Before Medea’s house in Corinth, near the palace of CREON. The Nurse enters from the house.
Prologue: Nurse, Attendant, and Medea (pg. 1-5)
1. What is the purpose of the Nurse’s speech?
2. According to the Nurse, why did Medea sail with Jason to Greece from her home in Colchis?
3. What did Medea do upon arriving in Greece at Iolchus?
4. What is the present situation in Corinth?
5. What is Medea’s attitude toward her children and what does the Nurse fear she might do?
6. What rumor has the Attendant heard?
7. What is the Nurse’s view of Jason’s behavior? The attendant’s view?
8. What feelings does Medea herself express?
Parados (pg. 5-9) – Chorus (Leader), Medea, and Nurse
1. How does the Chorus of Corinthian women feel toward Medea?
Creon approaches –
First Episode (pg. 10-14) – Chorus (Leader), Medea, and Nurse
1. How does Medea view her situation in Corinth? Her situation as a married woman
foreigner?
2. What request does Medea make of the Chorus?
3. What order does Creon give to Medea?
4. Why does he do this?
5. How does Medea reply to Creon’s concerns?
6. How does Creon react to Medea’s reply?
and mother? As a
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7. What request does Medea make of Creon?
8. What appeal does she make in support of her request?
9. What is Creon’s reaction to her request?
10. After Creon’s departure, how does Medea explain her behavior?
11. What does Medea intend to do?
12. What problem is a concern to Medea?
13. How determined is Medea to put her plan into action?
14. What is Medea’s motivation?
FYI: Medea’s reference to her planning and contriving would remind the audience of the meaning of the
name Medea “cunning contriver”.
FYI: Her mention of her grandfather Helios, the sun god, calls attention to her divine ancestry.
15. What is Medea’s view of women?
First Stasimon (pg. 14-15)
Singing….
1. What is the reaction to the last two lines of Medea’s speech? “Thou hast cunning; and, more than this,
we women…”
2. What answer does the Chorus give to the ancient poets’ depiction of female faithfulness?
3. What is their view of Medea’s situation?
4. To what is the Chorus referring when they mention the lack of respect for oaths and of shame in Greece?
Jason enters alone. Medea comes out of the house –
Second Episode (pg. 15-20) – Jason, Chorus, and Medea
1. What criticism does Jason make of Medea?
2. What does he intend to do for her and his children?
3. What answer does Medea give to Jason’s offer?
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4. What had Medea done for Jason?
5. What accusation does Medea make against Jason?
6. What is Medea’s predicament?
7. What is Jason’s view of why Medea had helped him?
8. According to Jason what advantages did Medea derive from coming to Greece with him?
9. What are the reasons that Jason gives for marrying the Corinthian princess?
10. What criticism does Jason make of women in general?
11. What criticism does Medea make of Jason’s arguments?
12. What help does Jason offer Medea?
13. What is Medea’s reaction to this offer?
Second Stasimon (pg. 20-21)
1. What view of love (“Cypris/Cyprian” – Aphrodite) does the Chorus present in the first stanza?
2. What prayer does the Chorus make in reference to Cypris in the second stanza?
3. To whom is the Chorus referring in the third and fourth stanzas?
Aegeus and his attendants enterThird Episode (pg. 21) – Aegeus, Medea, and Chorus
1. What question did Aegeus ask of the Delphic Oracle?
2. What was the oracle’s answer?
3. What request does Medea make of Aegeus?
4. What does Medea offer to do in return for Aegeus?
5. What is Aegeus’ reply?
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6. What is the only condition under which Aegeus will receive Medea into his land (Athens)?
7. What does Medea require Aegeus to do? Why?
8. What is Aegeus’ reaction to this requirement?
9. By whom does Medea make Aegeus swear?
10. After Aegeus’ departure why does Medea rejoice?
11. What will Medea do now with regard to Jason’s intended bride?
12. What does she plan to do next?
13. What will she achieve through this action?
14. What is her motivation in this action?
Third Stasimon (pg. 25-28)
1. What does the Chorus specifically praise in reference to Athens?
2. What does the Chorus ask Medea in the second half of the ode/stanza?
Jason entersFourth Episode (pg. 28-31) – Jason, Medea, and Chorus
1. What general attitude does Medea now present to Jason?
2. What is Jason’s reaction to Medea’s apparent change of mind?
3. What does Medea want Jason to do?
4. How does Medea suggest Jason should go about this?
5. What will Medea do to help Jason in this endeavor?
6. What does Jason think of this help?
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Fifth Episode (pg. 32-35)
1. What news does the Messenger report to Medea?
2. What is Medea’s reaction to this news?
3. Why does she react in this way?
4. What reasons does Medea give why she should kill her children?
5. Explain how Medea is unsure with regard to what she is considering?
6. What is the Chorus’s view of the parent-child relationship?
7. The Messenger reports the deaths of the princess and Creon himself to Medea. How are their deaths
accomplished?
8. What general comments does the Messenger make on what has just happened?
9. What does Medea intend to do now?
Medea enters the houseFifth Stasimon (pg. 35-36)
1. What warning does the Chorus give to Medea?
Enter Jason, running in – breathless Exodos (pg. 42-47) Jason, Chorus, and Medea
1. What concern does Jason express upon hearing of his children’s deaths?
2. According to Jason, why did Medea kill her children?
3. What plans does Medea have for her children? For herself?
4. What does she predict for Jason?
5. What reason does Medea give for having killed her children?
6. What comment does the Chorus make on the events of the play?
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