Medea

Reading Check questions are designed for in-class review on key plot points or for quick verbal or written assessments. Multiple Choice and Short Answer Quizzes create ideal summative assessments, and collectively function to convey a sense of the work’s tone and themes.

Lines 1-287

Reading Check

1. Where is Medea from?

2. Where does Medea live?

3. What difficult experience does Medea challenge any man with “soldier fantasies” to deal with?

Multiple Choice

1. What is the role of Medea’s Nurse in this first section?

A) She cares for an ailing Medea who has fallen ill from heartbreak.

B) She introduces what is happening since the play begins amidst action already in progress.

C) She is the messenger who delivers the news that Jason is leaving Medea.

D) She is the one who cares for Medea’s children since their father has been killed.

2. Why does Jason allow Creon to exile Medea, despite the fact that she and Jason have children together?

A) Jason is no longer honor bound to Medea.

B) Jason wants Medea to leave him and his new wife alone.

C) Jason plans to run away with Medea to Athens.

D) Jason is unsure of Medea’s love for him.

3. Why does the Chorus eventually come to support Medea’s plans for revenge?

A) They hope that she will be killed in the process, since death is better than shame.

B) They hope that she will come to realize that a woman’s place is to obey the men in her life.

C) They agree that women shouldn’t be subordinate to their husbands and that Medea has given up everything for Jason.

D) They agree that Medea is right and want her to be the ruler of Corinth.

Short-Answer Response

Answer each of the following questions in a complete sentence or sentences. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. How might the Nurse’s suggestion that Medea “is dangerous” be an example of foreshadowing?

2. Why does the Tutor suggest that the Nurse shouldn’t be surprised that Jason is allowing Medea to be exiled?

Lines 288-749

Reading Check

1. How much time is Medea able to get for herself before she is exiled?

2. How will Medea kill Jason, Creon, and Jason’s new wife?

3. Who is Aegeus?

Multiple Choice

1. Why does Creon hurry along Medea’s exile from Corinth?

A) He wants to take over her palace.

B) He wants to make sure she doesn’t lure Jason away from his daughter.

C) He wants to ensure that she is far away before declaring Jason king of Corinth.

D) He wants to make sure she can’t harm his daughter.

2. According to Jason, Medea has brought the exile on herself by doing what?

A) embarrassing him with her witchcraft

B) railing against the Corinthian royal family

C) leaving Colchis

D) betraying him

3. What reason does Jason give for marrying the princess of Corinth?

A) He has made it so that their sons’ political standing is secure.

B) He hopes to replace her with Medea one day when he sits on the throne of Corinth.

C) He couldn’t help falling in love with her and wants Medea to let him go peacefully.

D) He had made a promise to the king of Corinth long before he met Medea.

4. Why might Medea most want to secure an oath from Aegeus that she will forever be able to live in Athens?

A) She plans to marry him one day.

B) She knows that what she plans to do could prevent her from having a home anywhere in Greece.

C) She wants protection from Aegeus and his soldiers are the most powerful in the land.

D) She has already been exiled twice and doesn’t want to be forced to leave her home again.

Short-Answer Response

Answer each of the following questions in a complete sentence or sentences. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. Why does Creon give Medea extra time before her exile?

2. Why does Medea tease Jason about his new wife’s thoughts about his ability to be loyal?

3. Why does Jason say that he did Medea a huge favor by bringing her to Greece?

Lines 750-1397

Reading Check

1. Who inadvertently strengthens Medea’s resolve to kill her children?

2. Who carries the poisoned diadem and robe to the princess?

3. What does the Chorus call “justice too harsh / for Jason’s heartless crimes”?

4. Which god is Medea’s grandfather?

Multiple Choice

1. Why does Medea pretend to have accepted her exile?

A) because she knows she can start her life over in Athens

B) because she wants to try convincing Jason one last time to leave the princess

C) because she doesn’t want Jason to suspect what she’s planning

D) because she will soon be the ruler of Corinth

2. What reason does Medea give for her crying when Jason says that their sons’ lives will be blessed?

A) She has just been chopping onions.

B) She is sad to be leaving her sons behind.

C) She is a woman who is predisposed to crying.

D) She is weeping with joy that that her sons will have blessed lives.

3. Why does the Chorus wonder if it is better not to have children?

A) They aren’t sure if the pain of their death is worth it.

B) They think that children only hold women back.

C) They see how motherhood has placed Medea in an impossible position.

D) They fear that children only make relationships more complicated.

Short-Answer Response

Answer each of the following questions in a complete sentence or sentences. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. Why is Medea thrilled that she has secured safe harbor in Athens?

2. Why does Medea decide to kill her children?

3. Why is it an example of foreshadowing when Jason says that Medea will have to “fly on wings to heaven” to avoid punishment (Lines 1271-72)?