Women of Legend — OCR GCSE Classical Civilisation
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Women of Legend explained
This topic explores the role of temples in ancient Greek and Roman religion, focusing on their layout, use, and the function of associated officials and rituals.
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It covers specific Greek temples (Parthenon, Temple of Zeus at Olympia) and Roman temples (Temple of Fortuna Virilis, Pantheon), alongside the roles of priests, priestesses, and sacrificial practices.
What to demonstrate
- Understanding of temple layout including the naos/cella and cult statue
- Knowledge of the position and function of the altar
- Roles and responsibilities of Greek officials (hiereus, hiereia, mantis)
Show all 7 objectives
- Roles and responsibilities of Roman officials (Pontiffs, Pontifex Maximus, Augurs, Vestal Virgins, Haruspex)
- Understanding the purpose and process of animal sacrifice
- Ability to compare Greek and Roman temple use and religious practices
- Knowledge of specific prescribed temples: Parthenon, Temple of Zeus at Olympia, Pantheon, Temple of Fortuna Virilis
Women of Legend exam tips
Quick Revision Summary (Key Takeaway)
Women of Legend in OCR GCSE Classical Civilisation explores the portrayal of mortal women in Greek myth, focusing on figures like Penelope, Andromache, and Medea. It examines their roles in society, relationships, and the tension between female agency and male-dominated expectations, as seen in Homer's Odyssey and Euripides' Medea.
Topic Overview
Women of Legend is a fascinating topic that examines how ancient Greek literature portrays mortal women in myth. You will study figures like Penelope from Homer's Odyssey, Andromache from the Iliad, and Medea from Euripides' tragedy. These women are not just background characters; they are central to the plots and themes of the works, offering insights into Greek attitudes towards gender, marriage, and heroism.
The topic is part of the Myth and Religion paper in OCR GCSE Classical Civilisation. It requires you to analyse literary sources closely, considering how women are depicted in different genres (epic and tragedy) and how they interact with male heroes. You will explore themes such as fidelity, revenge, and the role of women in the household, as well as the tension between public and private life.
Understanding Women of Legend is crucial because it reveals the expectations and limitations placed on women in ancient Greece, but also shows how they could exercise agency and influence. By comparing different characters, you will develop skills in literary analysis and cultural interpretation, which are essential for the exam and for a deeper appreciation of classical literature.
Key Concepts
- →The role of women in ancient Greek society: limited rights, expected to be submissive, manage the household, and produce heirs.
- →The concept of 'kleos' (glory) and how it applies to men, while women are often associated with 'nostos' (return) or domesticity.
- →The use of cunning (metis) by female characters like Penelope and Medea to achieve their goals.
- →The portrayal of women as either 'good' (faithful, obedient) or 'bad' (deceitful, vengeful) in Greek literature.
- →The influence of genre: epic poetry (Odyssey) presents women differently from tragedy (Medea).
Marking Points
- Understanding of temple layout including the naos/cella and cult statue
- Knowledge of the position and function of the altar
- Roles and responsibilities of Greek officials (hiereus, hiereia, mantis)
- Roles and responsibilities of Roman officials (Pontiffs, Pontifex Maximus, Augurs, Vestal Virgins, Haruspex)
- Understanding the purpose and process of animal sacrifice
- Ability to compare Greek and Roman temple use and religious practices
- Knowledge of specific prescribed temples: Parthenon, Temple of Zeus at Olympia, Pantheon, Temple of Fortuna Virilis
Examiner Tips
- 💡Ensure you can identify and describe the key features of the prescribed temples
- 💡Be prepared to compare the role of priests and priestesses in both cultures
- 💡Use specific terminology (e.g., naos, cella, hiereus, haruspex) accurately
- 💡Practice linking visual evidence from temple architecture to the literary descriptions of sacrifice
- 💡Always refer to the specific source texts (Homer's Odyssey, Euripides' Medea) and quote or paraphrase to support your points. This shows the examiner you have read the texts closely.
- 💡When comparing characters, use a clear structure: point, evidence, analysis. For example, 'Both Penelope and Medea use cunning, but Penelope uses it to preserve her household, while Medea uses it to destroy Jason's.'
- 💡Be aware of the social context: mention the role of women in ancient Greece (e.g., limited rights, arranged marriages) to show you understand the cultural background.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing the roles of specific Greek and Roman religious officials
- Failing to link the physical layout of the temple to its religious function
- Generalising religious practices without distinguishing between Greek and Roman contexts
- Neglecting to use both literary and visual/material evidence in arguments
- Misconception: All women in Greek myth are passive and unimportant. Correction: While they lack political power, characters like Penelope and Medea are central to the plot and demonstrate intelligence and agency.
- Misconception: Medea is a goddess because she has magical powers. Correction: She is mortal, though of divine ancestry; her magic is a skill, not a divine attribute.
- Misconception: Penelope is simply a faithful wife with no other qualities. Correction: She is also cunning and resourceful, using her weaving trick to delay the suitors and maintain control.
Revision Plan
- 1Week 1: Read the relevant sections of the Odyssey (Books 1-2, 19, 21-23) focusing on Penelope. Take notes on her actions, words, and how others describe her.
- 2Week 2: Read Euripides' Medea, focusing on Medea's speeches and her interactions with Jason and the Chorus. Compare her to Penelope.
- 3Week 3: Create revision cards for each character, including key quotes and themes. Practise past exam questions on Women of Legend.
- 4Week 4: Review your notes, test yourself with active recall, and write a timed essay on a comparison question.
Exam Question Types
- 📋1-2 mark questions: Define a key term (e.g., 'What is a suitor?') or identify a character.
- 📋4-5 mark questions: Describe a character or event (e.g., 'Describe how Penelope delays the suitors.')
- 📋6-8 mark questions: Explain or compare (e.g., 'Explain how Medea is portrayed as a powerful woman.')
- 📋10-12 mark questions: Evaluate or discuss (e.g., 'Evaluate the view that women in Greek myth are always victims.')
Command Word Expectations (OCR)
Describe
Give a detailed account of a character, event, or scene. Include specific details from the source text, but do not analyse or evaluate.
Explain
Give reasons or causes for something. Show how and why a character behaves in a certain way, using evidence from the text.
Compare
Identify similarities and differences between two characters or texts. Use a structured approach, with clear points of comparison and evidence.
Evaluate
Make a judgement about a statement or issue. Consider different viewpoints, use evidence to support your argument, and reach a conclusion.
How Students Lose Marks (Examiner Pitfalls)
Pitfall: Students often describe women as passive victims without acknowledging their agency or intelligence, losing marks for not analysing the complexity of their portrayal.
❌ Weak Answer (Loses Marks):Penelope is just a faithful wife who waits for Odysseus and weaves a shroud. She doesn't do anything important.
Example improved answer:Penelope is a complex figure who uses her intelligence to delay remarriage, as seen in her weaving trick (Odyssey 19). This demonstrates her cunning and agency within the constraints of patriarchal society, as she subverts male expectations by controlling her own narrative and household.
Examiner Tip: Always consider how women exercise power or influence, even in limited spheres. Use specific examples from the source texts to support your analysis.
Pitfall: Students often confuse the roles of mortal women with goddesses, or fail to distinguish between different female characters, leading to vague answers.
❌ Weak Answer (Loses Marks):Medea is a goddess because she has magical powers and can fly away in a chariot at the end.
Example improved answer:Medea is a mortal woman, though she is a granddaughter of the sun god Helios and possesses magical abilities. Her divine ancestry and use of magic set her apart from ordinary women, but her mortal status is crucial: her suffering and revenge are human emotions, and her final escape in the sun god's chariot highlights her superhuman nature while still being a mortal woman.
Examiner Tip: Read the source material carefully to note the distinction between mortal and immortal. Use the text to justify your classification, and explain how the character's status affects her actions and the audience's response.
Step-by-Step Worked Solutions
Question: Explain how Penelope uses her intelligence to delay her suitors in the Odyssey. Use evidence from the text. (6 marks)
- 1.Step 1: Identify the key fact: Penelope promises to choose a husband when she finishes weaving a shroud for Laertes.
- 2.Step 2: Explain the trick: She weaves by day and unravels it by night, thus delaying her decision for three years.
- 3.Step 3: Use evidence: Quote or paraphrase from Odyssey Book 2 (Antinous tells the story) or Book 19 (Penelope tells Odysseus).
- 4.Step 4: Analyse the significance: This shows her cunning and loyalty, as she uses a domestic task to maintain control over her situation.
Final Answer: Penelope delays the suitors by weaving a shroud for Laertes, promising to choose a husband when it is finished. She secretly unravels her work each night, prolonging the task for three years. This demonstrates her intelligence and loyalty, as she uses a traditionally female activity to outwit the suitors and remain faithful to Odysseus.
Question: Compare the portrayal of Medea in Euripides' play with the portrayal of Penelope in the Odyssey. (8 marks)
- 1.Step 1: Identify key similarities: Both are intelligent, resourceful women who face difficult situations.
- 2.Step 2: Identify key differences: Medea is openly defiant and violent, while Penelope is patient and submissive in appearance.
- 3.Step 3: Use evidence: Medea's revenge (killing her children) vs Penelope's weaving trick.
- 4.Step 4: Analyse the context: Medea is a foreigner and a witch, while Penelope is a Greek queen; both challenge male authority in different ways.
- 5.Step 5: Conclude: Both women subvert expectations, but Medea does so destructively, while Penelope does so constructively.
Final Answer: Medea and Penelope are both intelligent women who use their wits to navigate male-dominated worlds. Medea openly defies Jason and takes violent revenge, killing her children to punish him, while Penelope uses a domestic trick to remain faithful. Medea's actions are destructive and shocking, reflecting her foreign and magical nature, whereas Penelope's are subtle and loyal, fitting her role as a Greek wife. Both challenge male authority, but Medea does so through public defiance and violence, while Penelope does so through private cunning.
Active Recall Memory Test
What trick does Penelope use to delay the suitors?
Key Fact: She weaves a shroud for Laertes by day and unravels it by night.
Who are the two main female characters in the Odyssey and the Iliad that you study?
Key Fact: Penelope (Odyssey) and Andromache (Iliad).
What is Medea's divine ancestry?
Key Fact: She is the granddaughter of the sun god Helios.
How does Medea kill Creon and his daughter?
Key Fact: She sends a poisoned robe and crown as gifts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Penelope considered an important female character in Greek mythology?
Penelope is important because she is a mortal woman who uses her intelligence to maintain control over her life. Unlike many female figures who are passive, she actively delays the suitors with her weaving trick, showing cunning and loyalty. She is also a central figure in the Odyssey, representing the ideal faithful wife, but she also has agency, as seen when she tests Odysseus' identity. This makes her a complex character who challenges simple stereotypes.
What is the difference between how Penelope and Medea are portrayed?
Penelope is portrayed as a loyal and patient wife who uses subtle, domestic cunning to protect her household. Medea, on the other hand, is a foreign woman who uses violent and public revenge to punish her husband. Penelope works within the system, while Medea rejects it entirely. Both are intelligent, but Penelope's intelligence is constructive, while Medea's is destructive. This difference reflects the genres: epic poetry often idealises women, while tragedy explores darker aspects.
Do I need to know the whole Odyssey for this topic?
No, you only need to focus on the parts that feature Penelope and other women, such as Books 1-2, 19, and 21-23. Your exam will test your knowledge of specific scenes and quotes, so it's more important to know these sections in detail than the entire epic. However, understanding the overall plot helps you contextualise Penelope's role.
How can I get top marks in the 12-mark evaluation question?
To get top marks, you need to give a balanced argument, use specific evidence from the sources, and reach a clear conclusion. Start by stating your view, then present arguments for and against, using quotes to support each point. Finally, make a judgement that answers the question directly. For example, if the question is 'Women are always victims in Greek myth', you could argue that Penelope is not a victim because she uses her intelligence, but Medea is a victim of Jason's betrayal, even though she takes revenge.
What does 'metis' mean and why is it important for this topic?
Metis is a Greek word meaning cunning intelligence or wisdom. It is important because both Penelope and Medea use metis to achieve their goals. Penelope uses it to delay the suitors, and Medea uses it to plan her revenge. In Greek culture, metis was often associated with women and was seen as a form of intelligence that could be used to overcome physical strength. Understanding this concept helps you analyse how female characters exercise power.
Are there any other women I should know about besides Penelope and Medea?
Yes, you should also know about Andromache from the Iliad, who is Hector's wife. She is portrayed as a devoted wife and mother, but she also expresses her fears about the war and her son's future. Her scene with Hector in Book 6 is a key moment that shows the impact of war on women. You may also need to know about Helen, though she is less central to the Women of Legend topic.