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GREEK TRAGEDY · READING COMPREHENSION & ANALYSIS

Reading Comprehension and Analysis Quiz for Aeschylus’ Suppliant Women

Assessing understanding of the Danaids’ appeal, the decision of Argos, and the responsibilities of sanctuary

By Richer Resources Editorial Team

 

Understanding the Danaids’ Appeal for Protection

Aeschylus’ Suppliant Women explores the responsibilities of a community confronted by strangers seeking sanctuary. This reading comprehension and analysis quiz helps students assess their understanding of the play's principal events, characters, and dramatic conflicts.

Reading Comprehension

The printable student quiz contains eight multiple-choice questions addressing the Danaids’ flight from Egypt, their relationship to Danaus, their descent from Io, and their appeal to Pelasgus.
Additional questions examine the role of the Argive citizens, the significance of the sacred sanctuary, and the confrontation with the Egyptian herald.

Literary Analysis

Three short-answer questions invite students to explain the reasons behind Pelasgus’ hesitation, examine the role of the Chorus, and consider why the ending provides protection without fully resolving the conflict.
Students are encouraged to support their interpretations with specific events and passages from the play.

Classroom Use

The quiz may be assigned after students complete the tragedy or used as a review before a discussion of sanctuary, consent, religious obligation, and civic responsibility.
The student version contains no answers. A separate teacher answer key provides correct responses, suggested analytical answers, and scoring guidance.

Note to the Educator

Encourage students to distinguish the Danaids’ need for protection from the political and religious responsibilities confronting Pelasgus. The play's dramatic tension depends upon the fact that granting sanctuary is both an act of protection and a decision with potentially serious consequences for Argos.
For written responses, accept differing interpretations when students support them with evidence from the play. Remind students that the surviving tragedy does not depict the later events associated with the Danaids in the wider mythological tradition.
This resource accompanies the Richer Resources Publications edition of Suppliant Women, translated by Ian Johnston.
Printable PDF versions of the student quiz and separate teacher answer key are available by email. 

Free PDF by Email

Available free to educators by email.

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