The Race for Atalanta
Characters
ATALANTA, a great huntress and athlete
CHLOE, her friend
ANNOUNCER
HIPPOMENES, her suitor
RUNNERS
ACT I
1
[Atalanta’s home in Ancient Greece. Chloe is weaving a beautiful cloth while Atalanta paces. Outside, it is raining.]
2
ATALANTA: I didn’t run my morning marathon, and now I’m crawling out of my skin.
3
CHLOE: Take a breath, count to ten.
4
[Atalanta stops pacing, closes her eyes, and breathes. Having collected herself, she approaches Chloe, who has taken out a skein of golden thread to add to the cloth.]
5
ATALANTA: Shiny! [Grabbing the thread, which she holds throughout the scene.] Thank you for taking over my weaving.
6
CHLOE: You haven’t made much progress, and I actually enjoy it.
7
ATALANTA: I don’t hope to require a wedding gown any time soon.
8
CHLOE: Nonsense! Every young man in Athens wants you as his bride.
9
ATALANTA: They only want a meek beauty who will lounge about and weave dresses. [Chloe winces] . I can outrun, out-hunt, out-fight, out— [She waves the golden thread around, searching for a word.]
10
CHLOE: You can outdo any of them, and thus none will do.
11
ATALANTA: How many have been raised by bears, as I have? How many have run from Athens to Thebes and back in a single morning? How many have slain a wild boar?
12
CHLOE: And how many can match your admirable modesty?
13
ATALANTA: [Smiling at the jab.] None! I could only love a man as talented and daring as I.
14
CHLOE: [Kidding.] Perhaps you should hold a race, with your affection as the prize.
15
[Atalanta laughs but then grows serious.]
16
ATALANTA: Not a bad idea.
ACT II
SCENE 1
17
[A stadium. Atalanta stretches downstage. Upstage, Hippomenes, dressed for a race, sits in the stands. Announcer enters.]
18
ANNOUNCER: [To audience.] Welcome to the First Annual Race for Atalanta’s Hand!
19
HIPPOMENES: [Aside.] Annual? Not if I can help it.
20
ANNOUNCER: Atalanta, daughter of bears, slayer of boars, courageous Argonaut, will commit herself in matrimony to the man who can best her in a contest of speed. [Atalanta waves at the audience.] Anyone who fails [Pauses for dramatic effect.] will be exiled. Let the races begin! Runners, on your mark. Get set.
21
[Atalanta bends into starting position alongside five runners.]
22
ANNOUNCER: Go!
23
[Atalanta dashes offstage, right, ahead of the runners.]
24
HIPPOMENES: [Starry eyed.] She’s a wonder.
25
[Atalanta dashes onstage, left, raising her arms. She struts around as the crowd cheers. The five runners drag in, out of breath.]
26
ATALANTA: Who’s next?
27
HIPPOMENES: [Distressed.] I don’t stand a chance.
SCENE 2
28
[A sheltered place behind the stands. Hippomenes is alone. The announcer is heard calling runners to the next race.]
29
HIPPOMENES: Aphrodite, Goddess of Love, help me win this race against Atalanta so that she will be my wife.
30
[A sack drops from the sky, landing at Hippomenes’s feet. He picks it up and opens it.]
31
HIPPOMENES: What am I supposed to do with golden apples?
32
[He stands there for a moment, thoughtful. Then he smiles and exits.]
SCENE 3
33
[The stadium. Hippomenes, holding the sack, and Atalanta are on the starting line. Atalanta is trying to hide her interest in Hippomenes. Announcer stands upstage.]
34
ATALANTA: [Looking at him curiously, even hopefully.] You’re the last one.
35
HIPPOMENES: And the one who will win your heart.
36
ATALANTA: [Coyly.] We’ll see. That sack looks heavy. Won’t it slow you down?
37
[Hippomenes just smiles.]
38
ANNOUNCER: On your mark, get set, go!
39
[Atalanta dashes ahead of Hippomenes, who tosses an apple into her path.]
40
ATALANTA: [Stopping to pick up the apple.] Shiny!
41
[Hippomenes speeds past her, but she catches up and passes him. This happens twice more, but when she stops to pick up the third apple, Hippomenes crosses the finish line, arms raised in victory. Atalanta follows, smiling good-naturedly.]
42
ATALANTA: Very clever! But can I tell you a secret?
43
HIPPOMENES: You can tell me anything, my love.
44
ATALANTA: [Tossing him an apple, with a wink.] I let you win.
45
[Hippomenes grins and takes her hand. Together they wave to the cheering crowd, clearly feeling they both have won.]
The stage direction in Act I, Scene 2 [Chloe winces] suggests —
The stage direction in Act I, Scene 2 [Chloe winces] suggests —
Atalanta’s desire to avoid marriage seems wrong to Chloe.
Chloe is embarrassed by Atalanta’s skills.
Chloe hurt herself while weaving.
Atalanta’s comment hit Chloe close to home.
Atalanta’s comment hit Chloe close to home.
Read the line from the drama.
CHLOE: [Kidding.] Perhaps you should hold a race, with your affection as the prize.
The author most likely included this line in order to —
Read the line from the drama.
CHLOE: [Kidding.] Perhaps you should hold a race, with your affection as the prize.
The author most likely included this line in order to —
Foreshadow the events of the next Scene/Act.
Imply that no one is good enough to marry Atalanta.
Demonstrate Chloe’s dedication to her friend.
Suggest that Chloe doesn’t care about Atalanta’s problem.
Foreshadow the events of the next Scene/Act.
Act II, Scene II is important to the dramatic development of the story because it reveals that —
Act II, Scene II is important to the dramatic development of the story because it reveals that —
The goddess Aphrodite does not favor Atalanta.
There is nothing that can be done to win against Atatlanta’s speed.
Hippomenes is willing to do anything to win the race and Atalanta’s hand.
Hippomenes is sneaky and not to be trusted.
Hippomenes is willing to do anything to win the race and Atalanta’s hand.
Line 5 of Act I, Scene 1 helps the reader to understand that —
Line 5 of Act I, Scene 1 helps the reader to understand that —
Atalanta does care what Chloe is saying.
Atalanta is distracted easily.
Atalanta is tired of thinking.
Atatalanta is dedicated to running.
Line 5 of Act I, Scene 1 helps the reader to understand that Atalanta does care what Chloe is saying.
Based upon the events in the play, it is evident that the people of Ancient Greece believed —
Based upon the events in the play, it is evident that the people of Ancient Greece believed —
The gods would help them in their endeavors.
Getting married was not important.
Running was more important than any other skill.
Golden apples were a good luck charm.
Based upon the events in the play, it is evident that the people of Ancient Greece believed that the gods would help them in their endeavors.
Read the following line from the drama.
HIPPOMENES: [Starry eyed.] She’s a wonder.
This line reveals that Hippomenes —
Read the following line from the drama.
HIPPOMENES: [Starry eyed.] She’s a wonder.
This line reveals that Hippomenes —
Is only interested in beating Atalanta fair and square.
is threatened by Atalanta’s speed.
Is mesmerized by Atalanta’s athletic prowess.
Doesn’t feel he can beat Atalanta.