Name: Alexis Perry Date: 10/19/13

Class: English 10 Period: 1

MAJOR WORKS DATA SHEET

Title The Medea

Author Euripides

Date of Publication 431 BC

GenreGreek tragedy

Characteristics of the Genre This play has a lot of events that are unusual

and have a large impact on others. Medea kills her family and other just for revenge of one person, instead of killing that one person.

Historical Information

Greece was not a nation at the time, making the city-states become allied with one another

Peloponnesian War began which was the war between Athens and Sparta in Greece

Power and prosperity were large issues of the time

Author’s Biography He grew up about 50 miles from where the

play takes place (This is usual for most plays written in this time period.)

Euripides had two wives, relating to Jason who also had two wives in the play

Plot Summary

Medea fell in love with Jason, which betrayed her family. Medea gave up the Golden Fleece to Jason and left her homeland with him. Medea’s father sent a search party for the stolen Golden Fleece, Medea murdered her brother, which slowed

the search party down to allow more escaping time. Medea wanted power, so to get it she persuaded the daughters of Jason’s uncle to kill their father, which

would allow Jason to gain power. Medea and Jason were exiled to Corinth because this killing didn’t go as planned. Jason meets the daughter of Creon in Corinth, which is who he marries after divorcing Medea. Medea becomes suicidal and very vocal about her hatred towards the king, the daughter of Creon, and Jason. Creon is afraid for their lives, so he exiles Medea and she begs for one day to make arrangements for her and

her children. She uses that one day to plan the killing of the king, the daughter of Creon, and Jason. Poisons the daughter and the king. To seek revenge on Jason, Medea kills her own children and refuses to

allow him to see them or touch them.

Describe the Author’s Style…………………………..

Euripides has a very emotional way of writing

He uses a lot of his own opinions in his way of writing and is further progressed than other from his time

…..and provide an example to demonstrate the style

This is shown through how Medea talks to many different characters about her issues and how she vents to them very dramatically

Euripides believes that women are more than just toys, which is a different view than what others believe and he shows this through how Medea is powerful and not just a nobody

Memorable Quotes(at least 10)

Number and write each quote…...1. Medea: “You have the skill.

What is more, you were born a women, and women, though most helpless in doing good deeds, are every evil the cleverest of contrivers.” (407-409)

2. Jason: “Here I will prove that, first, it was a clever move, Secondly, a wise one, and, finally, that I made it in your best interests and the children’s. Please keep calm.” (548-550)

3. Chorus: “Jason, though you have made this speech of yours look well, still I think, even though others do not agree, you have betrayed your wife and are acting badly.” (576-578)

4. Messenger: “Medea, you who have done such a dreadful thing, so outrageous, run for your life, take what you can, a ship to bear you hence or chariot on land.” (1121-1123)

……..………………….……..and explain the significance of the quote1. Euripides writes these lines in thought that women are more than

just ragdolls, and have a real point in life. He gives his opinion threw this quote that women are entitled to as much as men are.

2. Jason says this quote to assure Medea that he was making the best decision for all and that he was making an important decision. This is where Medea realizes that she must take revenge on Jason and all that are involved; this is where she starts her killings.

3. These group of women are making a wise statement by telling Jason that he is in the wrong, and almost siding with Medea and backing her wrong doings up.

4. The messenger tells Medea in his one appearance that she had just committed a horrible crime and the only way for her to live was to escape. This quote also gives an insight to what is coming next, because the messenger gives the clue about the chariot.

Characters(all major and at least one or two significant minor characters)

Name Role in Story Significance AdjectivesMedea- Main character protagonist Thief, killer, power

hungry, manipulative, tricky, sneaky

Jason- Husband of Medea and daughter of Creon

Snob, self-interested, jerk, insensitive

Creon- King of Corinth, exiles Medea

Suicidal,

Daughter of Creon- Marries Jason after Medea, killed by Medea

Young, beautiful,

Children- Medea and Jason’s children

Oblivious, innocent, naïve, tricked, used

Chorus- Commentator, women of Corinth

Supportive,

Aegues- Gives Medea sanctuary, King of Athens

Nurse- Caretaker of the house, Medea’s confidant

Messenger/Tutor- M:provides news of deaths (appears once)T: manages the children, messenger

Setting Corinth, Greece In front of Jason and Medea’s house

Significance of the Opening SceneThe opening scene in this play basically tells the baseline of the story. It gives you the main points that are going to happen throughout the book.

Significance of the Ending SceneThe ending scene is where Jason is hit my “karma”. He was doing the wrong in the beginning and it is coming back to him in the end. He loses his new wife, his children, and everything he valued.

Symbols

1. Killings- all the killings are a symbol of revenge. The killing of the daughter of Creon is to get back at Jason and her father. The killing of her own sons is what throws Jason over the edge and is a symbol of the marriage between Jason and Medea being completely dismantled. Honor-killing: Medea killed her sons because they were a resemblance of Jason, and Jason was a disgrace to her.

2. Power- Euripides recognizes that women shouldn’t be below men and that they should be equal to men. This is shown through Medea’s struggle for power; she tries to gain power in so many ways but never succeeds.

Possible Themes and Other Topics for Discussion Revenge/Betrayal- These themes would be the main themes throughout the story. All the decisions that

Medea make are based on her ability to get back at Jason for betraying her. Marriage- Medea and Jason’s relationship shows the exact opposite of what marriage should be like.

The way their relationship goes down is the absolute worst a marriage could be.