Identifying and keeping track of characters is important, especially when the names are unfamiliar and hard to remember. But sometimes, someone comes along who is exceedingly interesting, someone like Medea, whose motives and actions are difficult to decipher.
Have your students create a three-cell storyboard that looks very carefully at one character. The example below shows Medea, but most characters benefit from closer examination. Focus on what drives the character to action, and why they may behave in the manner that they do.
Medea is a fascinating, yet terrifying, character. She is the granddaughter of the Titan, Helios, and a servant of Hecate, the goddess of sorcery. She is also a talented user of magic herself.
After being shot with Eros' arrow, she gives up her city's treasure, leaves home, murders her brother, stares down the bronze giant Talos, and convinces Pelias' daughters that cutting up and boiling one's father is a good idea.
Such is the power of love. Medea makes great sacrifices for Jason's sake, doing all of these amazing and horrifying things, and he ends up leaving her for a political marriage. Shouldn't Jason have known NOT to cross her?
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Student Instructions
Create a storyboard analyzing a character in detail.
Guide students to identify similarities and differences between two or more characters using a Venn diagram or a comparison chart. This visual approach helps students organize their thoughts and deepen comprehension by analyzing motivations, actions, and traits side by side.
Pick characters with distinct personalities or choices. For example, choose Medea and Jason to highlight contrasting motivations and decisions that drive the story.
Draw two overlapping circles or a comparison table where students can visually organize shared and unique qualities of each character. This supports visual learners and makes content more accessible.
Ask students to brainstorm adjectives, behaviors, and decisions for both characters. Place shared qualities in the overlap and unique ones in the separate sections. This process encourages critical thinking about character development.
Lead a class conversation about how character interactions shape the plot and themes. Highlight how contrasts between characters drive conflict and reveal deeper messages in the myth.
To help students analyze a character from Jason and the Argonauts, guide them to focus on the character's background, motivations, and key actions. Encourage them to use a storyboard to visually map out these aspects, which makes complex characters like Medea easier to understand.
A simple approach is to have students create a three-cell storyboard: one cell for the character's description, one for their significant actions, and one for their motivations. This breaks down analysis into manageable steps for grades 6–12.
Medea is complex because her actions are driven by powerful emotions, magic, and conflicting loyalties. She makes extreme sacrifices and choices that can be both heroic and terrifying, making her motives difficult to decipher for students.
Medea helps Jason by betraying her family, using magic, and overcoming obstacles like Talos. She also manipulates others and takes drastic measures out of love, showcasing her importance and depth in the story.
Create a character map by having students identify a character, describe their traits, list key actions, and note their motivations. Illustrating each example with scenes from the story helps solidify understanding and engagement.