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Medea Study Guide

by Euripides

Medea study guide contains a biography of Euripides, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

Greek audiences would have known the story of the ill-fated marriage between Jason, hero of the Golden Fleece, and Medea, barbarian witch and princess of Colchis. The modern reader, to fully understand the events of Medea, needs to be familiar with the legends and myths on which the play is based.

Medea was of a people at the far edge of the Black Sea; for the Greeks of Euripides' time, this was the edge of the known world. She was a powerful sorceress, princess of Colchis, and a granddaughter of the sun god Helias. Jason, a great Greek hero and captain of the Argonauts, led his crew to Colchis in search of the Golden Fleece. King Aeetes, lord of Colchis and Medea's father, kept the Fleece under guard. A sorcerer himself, he was a formidable…

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Medea Essays and Related Content

 

Posted By justin h #228977 at Feb 07, 2012 8:45 PM

 

Posted By priyanka b #194319 at Jan 31, 2012 8:13 PM

Examine Medea as a play of ideas.

Medea, written by Euripides, is one of the most famous Greek Tragedies.

Medea | Answers: 1

 

Posted By cyclop a #225363 at Jan 18, 2012 2:18 AM

Why is it Medea is a psychological play?

Euripides's play takes place in Corinth, where Jason had settled with his Colchian wife Medea after his adventure in pursuit of the Golden Fleece (in Greek mythology, a rare garment made from the wool of a magical flying ram). The scene opens with a prologue spoken by Medea's nurse. She summarizes what has led to her lady's current state of grief and rage: her husband Jason has married the daughter of the local king, Creon. The nurse recounts how Medea aided Jason in his exploits, even killing her own brother to help Jason escape. The nurse knows the many moods that Medea is capable of and fears that her rage may settle on her two children by Jason. When the attendant appears with the boys, the nurse warns him to keep them away from their angry mother.

Medea | Answers: 1