Week 12 Euripides’ Medea (western literature )

1. Aristotles  -was a Greek philosopher and scientist born in the Macedonian city of Stagira, Chalkidice. At eighteen, he joined Plato's Academy in Athens and remained there until the age of thirty-seven (c. 347 BC). His writings cover many subjects – including physics, biology, zoology, metaphysics, logic, ethics, aesthetics, poetry, theater, music, rhetoric, linguistics, politics and government – and constitute the first comprehensive system of Western philosophy. Shortly after Plato died, Aristotle left Athens and, at the request of Philip of Macedon, tutored Alexander the Great starting from 343 BC.

2.Plot is the most important in drama,a story which affect others event through the principle causes and effect , who went to see the event mostly are men ,and on the stage there \are three side of entrance for the actors.


3. Deux ex machina is a Latin calque from Greek meaning "god from the machine".The term has evolved to mean a plot device whereby a seemingly unsolvable problem is suddenly and abruptly resolved by the contrived and unexpected intervention of some new event, character, ability or object to bring the tale to a happy ending , or  a comedic device. Aristotle was the first to use deus ex machina as a term to describe the technique as a device to resolve the plot of tragedies.


4.Medea is a barbarian and a sorceress who was the daughter of King Aeëtes of Colchis, niece of Circe,sister of Absyrtus. granddaughter of the sun god Helios, and later wife to the hero Jason, with whom she had two children, Mermeros and Pheres. In Euripides's play of Medea.


5.Argo-the first magical ship constructed by Jason and the Argonauts the his quest to find the Golden Fleece.


6.The myth of Medea and Jason
When Jason go back to his homeland-Lolcus to regain his father's throne-Aeson stolen by his uncle Pelias,but king Pelias says if Jason bring him the golden fleece,then he will give up the throne,so Jason sail the Argo far away to Colchis,when he arrived,the king Aeëtes of Colchis says that he can have the golden fleece, if he complete the three impossible task.

Medea,the daughter of king Aeëtes,who fall in love with Jason and helps him to complete all the tasks even betray her family,she killed his brother and steel the golden fleece for Jason,when they return to Lolcus,she killed Pelias and his son,but they were exiled by Pelias's daughter to Corinth.

When Jason bring the Golden Fleece to king Pelias

7. When both of them settle in Corinth with two children,the king of Corinth-Creon want Jason marry his daughter Glauce,and Jason decide to abandon Medea,she takes vengeance for Jason's,she kill her children and kill Glauce with poisoned robe,finally she escaped to Athen with new life.

Medea killed her children

Vocabulary

1.contro-prefix means"against"
Example-controversial( causing a lot of angry public discussion and disagreement)
                controllability( something can be controlled)
                controvert( to say or prove that something is not true)

2.tempo-root means"time"
Example-contemporary( belonging to the same time)
               temporize( to comply with the time or circumstance)
               extempore( spoken or done without any preparation)

3.soph-prefix means"wisdom"
Example-sophist(  one who reasons falsely )
                sophisticated( having a lot of knowledge, culture, fashion and experience of the world)
                 sophistry( to persuade someone something is true but really false)
4.fidel-root means "trust"
Example-infidelity( the act not being faithful to your wife)
                confidential( to keep secret and not told anyone)
                fidelity( being loyal to somebody)

5.orchestra/ˈɔr kə strə/noun-a group of people who play various musical instrumental together.
Example-She plays the flute in the school orchestra.

6.ram/ræm/noun-a male sheep
Example-He has a ram in his farm.

7.provocative/prəˈvɒk ə tɪv/adjective-intend to make someone angry or upset.
Example-In addition, this being Joan Rivers, the joke is undoubtedly tasteless and provocative in the extreme.

8.turmoil/ˈtɜr mɔɪl/noun-a state of great anxiety and confusion.
Example-His statement throw the court into turmoil.