Friendship & Characters
Who are the two friends known for true friendship in this play?
Damon and Pythias
Where does the story of Damon and Pythias take place (island/city/country)?
Sicily / island of Sicily
What does the word "tyrant" mean as it is used in the play?
(tyrant = cruel ruler
What is one main idea or theme of Damon and Pythias? (one short phrase)
"friendship", "loyalty", "sacrifice"
What type of text is this (poem, short story, or drama)?
"drama"
Which character is the cruel ruler who sentences Pythias to death?
The King
What crime did Pythias commit that led to his arrest?
Speaking against the king / criticizing his laws
In context, what does "mercy" mean when the narrator says the king showed no mercy?
mercy = compassion/pardon
How does the king's reaction at the end show a change in him? Give one detail from the ending.
the king's change of heart shows growth (he frees them and praises friendship).
Name one way the playwright shows mood or setting (example: sound cue, music, stage direction)
stage directions and sound cues
Name one minor character who appears in the crowd or as a voice in the play.
First Voice / Second Voice / Jailer / Soldier / Robbers / Mother / Narrator
What bargain does Damon offer the king to help Pythias?
Damon offers himself as prisoner and says the king may kill him if Pythias doesn't return in time
The text calls Damon "heartbroken" when he hears about Pythias. What does "heartbroken" tell us about Damon's feelings?
mercy = compassion/pardon
Explain how the friendship between Damon and Pythias affects the people in the city (give one example from the text).
The people would talk amongst each other about the two men
What is the climax of the play — the most intense moment — and why?
climax at the public square when Damon faces death and Pythias arrives
Which character promises to care for Pythias’s mother and sister?
Damon
Describe one obstacle Pythias faces on his way back to the city
Robbers attack, tie him to a tree, steal his money
Find and rewrite a short sentence from the play that shows someone speaking "mocking" to another person; then explain what "mocking" suggests about tone.
mocking = making fun of/derisive tone
Identify a line or moment that shows sacrifice. Why is it important to the theme?
common student answers, answers may vary.
Give two examples of dialogue that reveal character traits (cite who says them).
answers may very but should include examples of loyalty and sacrifice
Explain in one sentence how Damon shows loyalty to Pythias (use a piece of evidence from the text)
Damon offers to take Pythias’s place in prison and die if Pythias doesn't return (text: Damon: "I will take his place...").
Put these events in order: (A) Damon taken to public square, (B) Pythias tied to a tree, (C) King agrees to the exchange, (D) Pythias arrives breathless at the square.
Correct order: C (king agrees), B (Pythias tied), A (Damon taken), D (Pythias arrives)
Choose the word "faith" as used in the play. Explain how the meaning of "faith" in this story is different from a religious meaning (use evidence from the text).
faith = trust in a person
Write a brief (2–3 sentence) summary explaining how the theme of loyalty develops from the beginning to the end of the play. Cite one piece of text evidence.
common student answers, answers may vary.
Explain how stage directions and sound (e.g., "Iron door opens", "Music: Up and out") help an audience understand the action. Use two specific stage cues from the text.
Stage directions and sound are crucial in drama for guiding actors' movements (blocking), setting mood, defining the scene (lighting, props, setting), conveying character emotions/thoughts, and enhancing the audience's immersive experience.
Sound effects and music, often guided by stage directions, build atmosphere and signal events, while directions themselves direct pacing and visual storytelling.