Women of Troy - BP1 example

Question 1

TS

Answer 1

Euripides champions individuals who are compelled by duty and obligation to others as they display true honour through their noble actions.

Question 2

Elab. Cassandra

Answer 2

Expressing her deep longing for a favourable turn of events, Cassandra fervently cries ‘Who could wait for the wind that fills her sails more eagerly than I do?’

Question 3

Analysis Cassadra 1

Answer 3

While Cassandra pretends to accept her tragic fate by willingly agreeing to embrace her new life with Agamemnon, Cassandra’s desire to fulfil her duty reflects her unwavering hope for vengeance and revenge.

Question 4

Analysis Cassandra 2

Answer 4

Through the metaphor of a ship waiting for ‘the wind’ to propel its ‘sails,’ Cassandra compares herself to a vessel ardently anticipating a change in fortune, while the phrase ‘more eagerly’ amplifies the magnitude of her longing, which surpasses that of anyone else, thus intensifying the extent of her motivation to pursue her obligation in avenging her loved ones.

Question 5

Analysis Cassandra 3

Answer 5

Despite her knowledge of impending doom, Cassandra’s spirit remains resilient, martyring herself as a metaphorical ‘trojan horse,’ patiently waiting to seek retribution for the greater good.

Question 6

Segue

Answer 6

Contrastingly, embraces a different perspective by emphasizing how a sense of duty can ignite a fervent yearning to pursue justice on behalf of others.

Question 7

Elab. Hecuba

Answer 7

Trapped in a void of sadness and despair, Hecuba calls on the chorus to ‘weep for the wives of the bronze armoured Trojans’ and for ‘their heroes dead.’

Question 8

Analysis Hecuba 1

Answer 8

By lamenting the loss of the Trojan Empire through her monody, Hecuba expresses her sorrow and grief as she mourns the heroic Trojan soldiers who died in battle, further illustrating her cultural obligation and collective duty to publicly pay homage and ‘weep’ for those who sacrificed themselves in the hope of preserving the Trojan lineage.

Question 9

Analysis Hecuba 2

Answer 9

Consequently, Euripides highlights the lingering omnipresence of duty embedded in the societal norms and expectations placed upon the Trojan women, even when their lives are collectively destroyed.

Question 10

VVS

Answer 10

Having observed decent honourable civilians on both sides suffer horribly during the Peloponnesian War, Euripides celebrates individuals who are determined to fulfil their duty in order to perform acts of devotion for themselves and others.