Chart and Worksheet for Euripides' Hippolytus by Robin Mitchell-Boyask, Temple University

Prologue	Scene 1	Scene 2	Scene 3	Scene 4	Scene 5	Scene 6	Scene 7
Aphrodite announces her plan to destroy Hippolytus for his impiety towards her, by making his stepmother Phaedra fall in love with him	Hippolytus and demi-chorus of huntsman enter, singing to Artemis. A servant/retainer warns Hippolytus to respect Aphrodite as well.	Phaedra near death, refusing to eat, with a few outbursts of seeming madness. Nurse forces her to admit she loves Hippolytus	Phaedra laments to the chorus her situation and her struggle to remain virtuous. Nurse tries to allay her fears, and promises she has a remedy.	Phaedra overhears Hippolytus' screams of horror when the Nurse tells him. She hides. Hippolytus responds to the Nurse by denouncing women in general.Phaedra  comes out and attacks Nurse. Alone, she plans her revenge.	Theseus returns, to find his wife dead. Reading her note accusing Hippolytus of rape, he curses his son.Hippolytus arrives and does little to sooth his father's anger. Theseus banishes him.	Messenger describes the giant bull that panics Hippolytus's horses. Theseus exults that Poseidon's curses work, proving his divine paternity.	Artemis reveals the truth to Theseus and denounces him. The dying Hippolytus is carried on stage. Theseus asks forgiveness, and Aphrodite orders the two to reconcile, announcing a cult for Hippolytus and revenge on Aphrodite
	Parodos	interlude	Stasimon 1	Stasimon 2	Stasimon 3	Stasimon 4	Exodos
	I have heard of Phaedra's illness. What is wrong?	What a catastrophe!	Eros is sweet and bitter.	If only I could escape... Phaedra's trip from Crete has turned disastrous	Two demichoruses, one huntsman, one female, lament Hippolytus' departure	Destructive Aprhodite, who rules all	Common pain for the city. The great ones suffer the most.

Parts played by first actor:
Parts played by second actor:
Parts played by third actor:

Repeated gestures (important here)
Significant entrances and exits (or failures to exit)

Study Questions:

1. Who is Theseus? Who is Phaedra?
2. Are their pasts significant for what happens in this play?
3. Why does Hippolytus live in Troezen, not Athens?
4. What's wrong with worshipping Artemis?
5. Is Hippolytus comparable to any other figure we have met so far?
6. Why is everyone not just dismayed, but utterly horrified, at the idea of a relationship between Phaedra and Hippolytus?
7. Could you remove Aphrodite and Artemis from the play and still have it work?