Study Questions for Medea

  1. What is the setting for the play? (1)
  2. Who is the character who speaks first? (1)
  3. What is the purpose of her soliloquy? (1-2)
  4. Explain: This is indeed the greatest salvation of all – For the wife not to stand apart from the husband.(1)
  5. How does the nurse characterize Medea? (Use specific examples)
  6. Explain: Indeed it is not usual for the young to grieve. (2)
  7. What has the rumor mill been stirring up? (3) Hint: Look at the conversation between the nurse and tutor. Does their exchange sound familiar?
  8. Explain: That everyone loves himself more than his neighbor. (4)
  9. Find at least 3 examples of foreshadowing in the nurse’s lines between p. 4-5.
  10. Explain: What is moderate sounds best. (5)
  11. Who makes up the chorus? (5)
  12. What does Medea wish for? (6)
  13. What advice does the Chorus give Medea? (6)
  14. What sins might Medea be paying for? Is she at the hands of Karma? (6)
  15. Give at least 2 examples of allusions to Greek mythology. (6)
  16. How is Medea’s monologue an example of a feminist speech? (8-9) Give examples – not a yes or no answer!
  17. Whose side is the Chorus on? (9)
  18. How does Creon characterize Medea? (10-11) Use examples!
  19. Explain: If you put new ideas before the eyes of fools

They’ll think you foolish and worthless into the bargains.

And if you are thought superior to those who have

Some reputation for learning, you will become hated. (10)

  1. Medea tells Creon that there is no need to be frightened? Do you believe her? Or did you? What kind of irony is this?
  2. Explain: A sharp-tempered woman, or, for that matter, a man,

Is easier to deal with than the clever type

Who holds her tongue. (11)

  1. How does Medea hide behind her children to buy some time? (12)
  2. What are Medea’s plans? (12-13)
  3. What is the allusion to Greek mythology? (13)
  4. Explain: It is the thoughts of men that are deceitful. Their pledges that are loose. (14)
  5. Explain: This is not the first occasion that I have noticed how hopeless it is to deal with a stubborn temper. (15)
  6. Who does Jason blame for Medea’s plight? (15)
  7. Why has Jason come to see Medea? What kind of assistance is he offering her? (15)
  8. What does Medea tell Jason that will lighten her heart? (15)
  9. List four things Medea claims to have done for Jason. (16)
  10. Explain: It is a strange form of anger, difficult to cure,

When two friends turn upon each other in hatred. (17)

  1. What is Jason’s spin of events? Use details! (17-18)
  2. What reason does Jason give for his main reason? (18)
  3. Explain: It would have been better far for men

To have got their children in some other way, and women

Not to have existed. (18)

35.What does the Chorus think of Jason’s logic? (19)

  1. Explain: it was not because of a woman I made the royal alliance (19)Do you believe this?
  2. Explain: Let me have no happy fortune that brings pain with it

Or prosperity which is upsetting to the mind! (19)

  1. Should Medea have accepted Jason’s offer? (20) explain
  2. Explain: There is no benefit in the gifts of a bad man. (20)
  3. Explain: When love is in excess

It brings a man no honor

Nor any worthiness. (20)

  1. Who is Aegeus? Why is he in Cornith? (21-22)
  2. What advice does Aegeus give Medea? (23)
  3. What is the agreement that Aegeus and Medea come to? (23-24)
  4. Why does Medea want Aegeus to give an oath to the gods? (24)
  5. What is Medea’s plan for revenge? (25-26)
  6. What does Medea say was her mistake? (26)
  7. What reason does she give for her plan to kill her children? (26)
  8. What is the opinion of the Chorus? (27)
  9. Explain: But we women are what we are – perhaps a little worthless (29)
  10. Explain: It is natural for a woman to be wild with her husband when he goes in for secret love. (29)
  11. Explain: But a woman is a frail thing, prone to crying. (30)
  12. Explain: If my wife considers me of any value

She will think more of me than money. (31)

  1. Why is Medea having second thoughts? (34)
  2. How does she convince herself to go through with the murder? (34)
  3. Explain: those who have never

Had children, who know nothing of it,

In happiness have the advantage

Over those who are parents.

The childless, who never discover

Whether children turn out as a good thing

Or as something to cause pain, are spared

Many troubles in lacking this knowledge. (35)

  1. What was the first reaction of the princess to Jason’s children? (37)
  2. What did Jason do? (37)
  3. What happened to the princess and to Creon? (38-39)
  4. Who does the Chorus blame for the death of the princess? (40)
  5. Who does Jason want to protect? (42)
  6. Why can’t Jason get his hands on Medea? (43)
  7. What does Medea say the children died from? (44)
  8. How does Medea predict Jason’s death? (45)
  9. Explain: What heavenly power lends an ear

To a breaker of oaths, a deceiver? (45)

  1. Explain the closing lines by the Chorus. (47)