Medea

1. Medea By Euripides 441 BC

2. About Euripides: • Author of some of the most disturbing Greek dramas. The Bachaai" or the "The Bacchantes" is a powerful its dark vision of divinity. • Medea, meanwhile, features probably one of the most unpleasant of heroines in literature. • Euripides was born about 480 BC and died in 407 BC • He wrote about 90 plays, mostly tragedies. We still have 17 of these tragedies and one satyr play. • He wrote about some women in Greek myths, like Electra and Medea. He made men and women from the myths seem quite ordinary and not at all grand. He showed Electra, who was a princess, dressed in rags and living in a hut.

3. Euripides – Pro/Con Criticism of Euripides Praise of Euripides Euripides' role as a dramatic innovator is unquestionable The simplicity of his dialogue and its closeness to natural human speech patterns paved the way for dramatic realism His plots and emotional scenes created our understanding of melodrama. Admired by Socrates and other philosophers, Euripides also distinguished himself as a free thinker. Criticisms of traditional religion and defenses of oppressed groups (especially women and slaves) enter his plays with an explicitness unheard of before him. More than any other work of art, plays such as The Bacchae, Trojan Women,, and Electra would become basic components of the Athenian citizen's political education. • Euripides' standing as a dramatist has often been disputed, especially during his lifetime. • While Aristotle heralded him "the most tragic of poets," he also criticized Euripides' confused handling of plot and the less-than-heroic nature of his protagonists. • Aristophanes, a comic dramatist, constantly mocked Euripides' tendency towards word-play and paradox.

4. Medea’s & Jason’s Earlier AdventuresWEB QUEST: Research the following online. Answer using complete sentences. • What is the earliest depiction of Medea in Greek mythology? • What did the oracle warn Pelias about? Who did it turn out to be? • How did Pelias plan to rid himself of Jason? • Name 3 of the dangers Jason and the Argonauts faced on their journey to Colchis? • What did King Aeetes require Jason to do to win the golden fleece? • How did Medea help Jason get the Golden Fleece? • How did Medea help Jason and the Argonauts escape? • Did Pelias give up his throne upon Jason’s return? What was Medea’s plan? • What was the result of Medea’s plan? • What does Jason do when he and Medea are in Corinth?

5. Introduction to Greek Drama p. 300 – 301Answer the following using complete sentences. • About when was Medea first presented? • Who is Dionysus? • Why is everyone invited and encouraged to attend the plays during the festival? • Why was it unusual for women to be in the audience? • Why did the actors make themselves “larger than life”? • Are there any actresses in the theater? • Why did the actors wear masks? • What is a skene? • From what did the Greek plays develop? • What “separation” allowed Greek drama to flourish? • What were Greek tragedies based on? • What was required of the tragedies?

6. Medea’s & Jason’s Earlier AdventuresWEB QUEST: Research the following online. Answer using complete sentences. • Continuing to use the internet, create a simple timeline depicting at least 10-15 of Medea’s and Jason’s earlier adventures. • DUE NEXT CLASS

7. Open Mind Masks • Create a mask that: • Portrays the mood and tone of the play so far • Reveals the character’s thoughts and feelings towards other characters and events in Act I • Symbolic pictures • Use of quotes encouraged • Mask should be completely colored • Boys = Jason Girls = Medea