Plot

Question 1

Story of the golden fleece

Answer 1

Pelias had stolen throne of Ioclus from Jason

In order to get Jason out of the city Pelias sent him to the Black Sea to win the Golden Fleece (treasure guarded by dragon)

after many adventures on the Argo (ship) with his crew (Argonauts) Jason arrived in Colchis to complete his quest

Question 2

How do Jason and Medea meet?

Answer 2

in Colchis Jason is seen by Medea (daughter of the king)

Medea immediately fell in love with Jason and resolved to do whatever she could to help him win the fleece and return safely to Greece

Question 3

Who was Medea?

Answer 3

granddaughter of the Sun and had magical powers

Question 4

How did Medea help Jason?

Answer 4

used power to conquer challenges her father set for him

Medea put dragon to sleep and Jason stole fleece and escaped back to Greece

to slow her father’s pursuit, Medea was even prepared to murder her brother (great desire to escape with Jason)

Question 5

What happened at Iolcus?

Answer 5

after they came to Iolcus, Jason’s ancestral home, Medea tricked the daughters of Pelias into killing thier father

they were required to flee from Iolcus and came, as exiles, to Corinth

Question 6

Prologue

Answer 6

Nurse explains that Medea is in pain (not eating, constantly weeping)

She had come from Colchis due to her intense love for Jason and has betrayed the oaths he made to her. Jason has married the daughter of the king of Corinth and abandoned Medea and their two sons

The nurse mentions that Medea seems to hate her sons and is concerned about what Medea might be planning

Tutors enter with two boys and brings news that King Creon is planning to exile Medea and her sons - nurse is angry that Jason will allow this to happen but tutor encourages her to not tell Medea yet

Nurse repeats her concerns about Medea’s plans and, as Medea begins to speak from within, she hurries the children into the house

Nurse preaches moderation as best way to avoid anger of gods

Question 7

Parados

Answer 7

entry speech by chorus of Corinthian women is split by Medea within the palace

Medea shouts out that she wants to die and the Chorus are surprised by her extreme reaction to her betrayal

chorus and nurse both wish that they could soothe Medea’s grief and anger

Medea wishes death on Jason and bride

she regrets betraying her father and her country when she murdered her brother

Question 8

First episode (chorus)

Answer 8

Medea enters to secure goodwill of chorus. She is aware that as a foreigner she must conform

mourns her betrayal by Jason and passes on to mourn vulnerability of women - women do not know what sort of husband they will end up with, have to put up with bad marriage without sexual freedom of men, women have dangers of childbirth

Medea reminds chorus she cannot return home and asks them not to say anything about her revenge plans

Question 9

First episode (Creon)

Answer 9

Medea explains that Creon has nothing to fear from her and her anger is aimed at Jason

explains that the rumours have risen from her reputation for cleverness (resented by others)

Creon says he fears her even-tempered words more than her passionate anger and she should leave

Medea pleads for one day to plan for her exile and Creon agrees before leaving reluctantly

Medea explains to chorus that she has tricked Creon by fawning on him but that she has still got plans for Jason, his bride and Creon

Medea mocks Creon for changing his mind and talks about ways for revenge before settling on poison

Question 10

First ode

Answer 10

chorus speak of upheaval in the world - men break oaths and women gain honour

they describe Medea’s plight as a foreign exile who left her land, stricken with love but now has no husband

Question 11

Second episode

Answer 11

Jason enters and blames Medea’s exile on foolish threats she has made against the royal family

but he is still willing to help her by offering her money

Question 12

Second episode

Answer 12

Jason enters and blames Medea’s exile on foolish threats she has made against the royal family

but he is still willing to help her by offering her money

Medea is angry at Jason and reminds him how she helped him win the fleece and brought about Pelias’ death but now Jason has abandoned her and their sons for another woman. She says she has no where to go and it is a disgrace to Jason that his wife will be cast out

Question 13

Second episode (Jason)

Answer 13

Jason explains to Medea that she helped him because she was under the influence of Aphrodite, not out of loyakty

he points out that Medea has gained from it - now lives in land of justice and law, talents are famous

Jason says he has married the king’s daughter to ensure security for them all in Corinth, not due to sexual desure or for more children

he claims women only think about their sex life

Question 14

Second episode (Medea response)

Answer 14

chorus admire Jason’s response but think he has behaved wrongly

Medea says she is not convinced by his clever explanations

Jason continues to unsuccssfully enourage Medea to accept situation and offers help but Medea returns to to subject of his betrayal and refuses his offer of assistance

Question 15

Second ode

Answer 15

chorus discuss problem of love without moderation and express fear of the power of Aphrodite

they wish to never be struck by adultourohs love and mourn the plight of an exile (wish they would rather die than live having lost their country)

chorus pity Medea in her suffering

Question 16

Third episode

Answer 16

Aegeus (Athenian king) enters on his way back from Delphic oracle where he is enquiring about how he might have children

Medea expresses surprise at his lack of children and then tells him about Jason’s betrayal

Aegeus is appalled but tells Medea to move on

Medea asks if she can seek refuge in Athens if she cures Aegeus’s childlessness. He agrees if she makes her own way there and Medea makes him swear an oath

Question 17

Third episode (plan)

Answer 17

Medea is delighted at her place for refuge

she plans to pretend to Jason that she agrees with with his arrangements and will then use her children to kill Cruesa

Then she will kill her children (she knows this is a big act but she does not want to be seen as weak)
- the chorus do not agree but are reminded that they are sworn to silence

Question 18

Third ode

Answer 18

chorus sing about purity of Athens and claim that Aphrodite once visited the city, inspiring its culture

they are surprised that Athens will offer sanctuary to a woman who has murdered her own children and plead with Medea to think again (they encourage her to think through the deed)

Question 19

Fourth episode

Answer 19

Jason enters and Medea asks him to forgive her changeable moods

She says she has come around to his way of thinking and now thinks it is best to go along with her plans

she calls for the children to embrace their father.

Jason is pleased and convinced that Medea has changed and is certain his sons will grow up as great men

Medea cries at the mention of her sons future and asks Jason to persuade Creon not to send the boys into exile - Jason says he will ask but thinks Creusa will be better at it

Question 20

Fourth episode (plan in action)

Answer 20

Medea promises to send the boys with a dress and crown for Jason’s new bride which had come from Medea’s grandfather and woven from gold

Jason says she can keep gift as palace is full of dresses but Medea says it will help convince her to help

Question 21

Fourth ode

Answer 21

chorus give up hope that Medea will change her plans now that poisoned dress and crown are on their way to the palace

they mention grief Jason will soon suffer and actions that led to disaster

Question 22

Fifth episode

Answer 22

tutor enters with the boys and tells Medea they have delivered the presents and suggests they have won her over - Medea is upset by this

Tutor leaves Medea with the boys and she is sad that she will soon lose them and never see them grow up and marry or that they will not help her in old age

Medea suggests to chorus she will abandon plan to kill them and take them to Corinth

Question 23

Fifth episode (determination)

Answer 23

abruptly changes back to former intention and chastises herself for weakness

changes back to original plan of going to Athens

she reminds herself that the fate of the princess is sealed and so cannot leave her children at the mercy of her enemies

embraces the boys and sends them inside, understanding what she is about to do and blaming her passion

Question 24

choral interlude

Answer 24

lyrical section

possible it indicates a debate between Chorus

chorus reflect on passions of women and then move onto trials of being a parent and how children can be a constant source of anxiety

the greatest grief for a parent is the death of their child

Question 25

Sixth episode

Answer 25

messenger enters, bringing news to Medea about the death of the princess and her father

Medea expresses her joy and wants to know more

messenger says there was joy in palace at Jason & Medea’s reconciliation. The princess was initially unhappy to see the boys but was happy with the gifts

Jason and boys left and Cruesa put dress on and admired herself (poison then began to take hold and her burned & bloody body died. the palace rushed around to tell Creon, he comes and kisses her body, the poison killing him too

Chorus suggest Jason deserves this and pity princess. Medea is convinced the boys will die (may be killed by someone in revenge and she would rather kill them herself) so she readies herself

Question 26

Fifth ode

Answer 26

chorus pleade with the Sun (great-grandad of boys) to stop Medea and are appalled at what is about to happen

screams are heard from inside and chorus consider breaking in to stop Medea.

Chorus compare Medea to Ino who was driven mad by the gods and killed her children but then threw herself into the sea and drowned

Question 27

Exodos

Answer 27

Jason comes to save the boys from Medea but the chorus tell him what she has done

Medea appears in a chariot of the Sun and Jason says he was wrong to bring her to Greece as she had already shown herself to be a traitor (killed brother and betrayed father)

Medea reminds Jason he did not treat her fairly and that she was not prepared to be laughed at by her enemies. They blame each other for the death of their children

Medea won’t give Jason the body and wants to take them to Athens. She foretells how Jason will die and he curses her to Zeus

Chorus explain that life holds many shocks and surprises