Medea Gender Roles & Theme Poster Project

Summary:In Euripides’ Medea, the protagonist [Medea] abandoned the gender roles of ancient Greek society. Medea defied perceptions of gender by exhibiting both "male" and "female" tendencies. She was able to detach herself from her "womanly" emotions at times and perform acts that society did not see women capable of doing. However, Medea did not fully abandon her role as a woman and did express many female emotions throughout the play.

Objectives:• Explore the context of Greek male and female

gender roles (theme). • List examples of gender roles.• Analyze how Medea breaks traditional roles and

how that impacts the audience.• Create a presentation to teach peers and prepare

for end of Medea unit test.

List of Male and Female Roles within Medea to look for…

Male Roles Female Roles Forceful Nurturing / Life

Giving Willful Modest /

DependentRational (less

emotional)Self Pitying

Proud / Boastful Emotional

Violent Jealous

Background Information

“A savage, bristling nature can do such harm, impossible to deal with.” (emotional)“but you could not give up your folly” (jealous vs. rational)“Like a skillful captain of a boat, run out from under your noisy squall of words.” (self pitying, emotional)“Isn’t that like a woman? You believe while bed is right that everything is right, but if you’re left alone between the sheets, you treat your nearest and dearest friend as your worst enemy.” (jealousy)

Consider Jason’s argument against Medea.

Euripides s

ides with

Medea because he

disagrees w

ith th

e

double standard

here.

Background InformationConsider Jason’s argument against

Medea.

Euripides s

ides with

Medea because he

disagrees w

ith th

e

double standard

here.

Rubric 2 quotes + 2 explanations showing Medea as Woman _______________(10 points)2 quotes + 2 explanations showing 2 Gender reversals Medea as man ___(10 points)Analysis paragraph detailing how Medea breaks the stereotype of being a woman. Analysis needs to include group opinions about whether Medea seems to exhibit more male or female traits with explanations as to why. This paragraph must also include your thoughts about how you think the audience would have reacted to such a character. (15 points)Illustration of 2 images involving a conventional gender role and a gender reversal (10 points)At least 3 well thought out connections/comparisons to present day female heroes (chart, graphic organizer or paragraph). Is Medea more similar or different than these characters? (10 points)

Gender Roles and Medea

Medea Gender Analysis Paragraph

Medea as a Woman

Connections

“Quote-------------------------------------” Explanation__________________

“Quote-------------------------------------” Explanation__________________

Medea as Man

“Quote-------------------------------------” Explanation__________________ “Quote--------------------------

-----------” Explanation__________________

Analysis___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Medea

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