The Women of Troy - VCE - Unit 1 & 2 Literature Study Guide - Research guides at Westbourne Grammar School at Westbourne Grammar School

Ancient Greek Theatre

Ancient Greek Theatre

This clip explores the defining aspects of Greek Theatre. The theatre of Ancient Greece flourished between 550 BC and 220 BC. This collection features video about Greek theatre and productions of Greek plays staged at the National Theatre.

National Theatre (2019) Women in Greek Theatre [online video], YouTube, 2019. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSRLK7SogvE (Accessed: 12 November 2025).

This National Theatre clip explores the defining aspects of Greek tragedy and why the plays resonate with audiences today.

National Theatre (2013) An Introduction to Greek Theatre [online video], YouTube, 2013. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSr6mP-zxUc (Accessed: 12 November 2025).

This mini-lecture by Dr Lucy Jackson explains the historical role and purpose of the ancient Greek tragic chorus, highlighting why it was central to performance and classical theatre.

National Theatre (2022) The Ancient Greek Chorus in Historical Context [online video], YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRMc-u9Nj74 (Accessed: 14 November 2025).

Views and values

Performance

This production and adaptation by Bethany Lutheran College of The Women of Troy.

Bethany Lutheran College (2019) The Women of Troy Presented by Bethany Lutheran College [online video], YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rkf96k4mT7g (Accessed: 14 November 2025).

Context

Women and Freedom

The above clip explores the role of women in Ancient Greek society and the representation of female identity in Antigone, Women of Troy and Medea.

National Theatre (2019) Women in Greek Theatre [online video], YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frfP386zxvA (Accessed: 12 November 2025).

Peloponnesian War
Provides an understanding of what influenced Euripides play - this conflict between Greek city-states that shattered the classical world.
The Trojan War
The Trojan War
The Trojan War
This article contains a video and brief overview of the Trojan War.

Insight Guide: background and context

Troy - map, location and Trojan War

The Golden Apple
A beauty contest between goddesses over a golden apple led to the Trojan War. This myth explains the divine origins of the conflict and the suffering shown in Euripides’ Women of Troy

12 Greek gods and goddesses
Learn about the main Greek gods and goddesses—like Aphrodite, Athena, and Hera—whose rivalries and influence led to the Trojan War.
Who was Helen of Troy?
This article provides clear, accessible insight into Helen’s mythological role and symbolic power—crucial for understanding how her story underpins the events and suffering portrayed in Women of Troy

Euripides biography

Study Guides

LitCharts: TheTrojan Women (pdf)

Lisa's Study Guides: Women of Troy

VATE Guide Women of Troy
An abridged student version of the VATE guide

Course Hero: The Trojan Women

Literary Criticism

Euripides' "Trojan Women": all is vanity
In this journal article, Luschnig argues that main view conveyed in The Trojan Women is that victory in war is ultimately meaningless and empty.

Euripides' Trojan Women: A tragedy of survivors
Dr Rosa Andujar's article shows how the play’s fragmented structure and focus on trauma create a powerful critique of war and a voice for those traditionally silenced.
Euripides Trojan Women: an interpretative essay
Prof. Chris Carey argues that The Trojan Women reworks epic myth to centre the suffering, resilience, and powerlessness of the Trojan women, contrasting their bleak, uncertain world with the larger divine plan they cannot see - and revealing how war exposes human fragility, injustice, and the limits of human understanding.

Text Analysis

Literary terms
A list of helpful literary terms from the Insight Guide which may be helpful for your analysis of Women of Troy
Glossary table
A table of terms to define and find an example from the play which may be helpful for close passage analysis.

This video explains key literary devices used in The Women of Troy, helping VCE English students analyse the play and strengthen their essay writing skills.

Lisa's Study Guides (2019) Women of Troy: Literary devices in essays [online video], YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yfRN6MElOg (Accessed: 14 November 2025).

Character map