Oresteia

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. Who was Agamemnon? What do you know about the myth of Agamemnon and his family? Who are some mythical figures you associate with ancient Greece and/or the Trojan War?

Teaching Suggestion: This Short Answer Question introduces students to Agamemnon, the legendary king of Mycenae (Argos) who led the Greek army during the Trojan War. Like most ancient Greek tragedies, the plays making up the Oresteia are based on older narratives taken from traditional mythology. As students read the Oresteia, it will be important to introduce them to the basic mythical context of the plays. Discussing the myths about the family of Agamemnon will strengthen their understanding; you might focus on the “Curse of Atreus” and how it shaped the lives of Agamemnon and his children, as well as the Trojan War and Agamemnon’s role in this myth.

• This article gives a helpful overview of the myth of Agamemnon and his family.
• This article from History.com surveys the mythology and history behind the narrative of the Trojan War.