midterm 2 questions

Who wrote The Oresteia, and when was it first performed?

The Oresteia was written by Aeschylus and first performed in 458 BCE at the Dionysia festival in Athens.

What are the three plays in The Oresteia?

Agamemnon, The Libation Bearers, and The Eumenides.

What is the central conflict of The Oresteia?

The cycle of blood vengeance within the House of Atreus and the eventual shift from personal revenge to a system of legal justice.

How does The Oresteia reflect the transition in Greek society?

It represents the shift from a system of personal vendetta to a structured legal system as seen in Athens.

Where does Agamemnon take place, and what event has just occurred?

It takes place in Argos, just after the Greeks have won the Trojan War.

How is the news of Troy’s fall brought to Argos?

A system of signal fires, a form of ancient telegraphy.

Who is Clytemnestra, and what role does she play in Agamemnon?

She is Agamemnon’s wife, who has been ruling Argos in his absence and plots his murder.

Why does Clytemnestra want to kill Agamemnon?

She seeks revenge for the sacrifice of their daughter, Iphigenia, and has also taken Aegisthus as her lover.

Who is Aegisthus, and what is his motivation for revenge?

He is the cousin of Agamemnon and the son of Thyestes, who seeks revenge because Agamemnon’s father, Atreus, killed his brothers.

Who is Cassandra, and what is her fate?

Cassandra is a Trojan princess and a prophetess, taken as a war prize by Agamemnon. She foresees her own murder but is powerless to stop it.

How does Clytemnestra kill Agamemnon?

She traps him in a net while he is bathing and stabs him multiple times.

How does Clytemnestra justify Agamemnon’s murder?

She claims it is divine justice for the murder of Iphigenia.

What is the Chorus’s reaction to the murder?

They are horrified but also acknowledge that Agamemnon's fate is part of a cycle of revenge.

What does the title The Libation Bearers refer to?

It refers to the women who bring offerings (libations) to Agamemnon’s grave.

Who is Orestes, and why does he return to Argos?

Orestes is the son of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra. He returns to avenge his father’s murder, following Apollo’s command.

Who is Electra, and what role does she play?

She is Orestes’ sister, who prays for vengeance and helps him carry out the plan.

What is the significance of Orestes recognizing Electra at the tomb?

It signifies their unity in seeking revenge and fulfilling their father’s honor.

How does Orestes justify killing his mother?

He believes it is his divine duty as commanded by Apollo.

What happens immediately after Orestes kills Clytemnestra?

He is haunted by the Furies (Erinyes), spirits of vengeance who punish matricide.

Where does The Eumenides begin?

At Apollo’s temple in Delphi, where Orestes seeks purification.

Who defends Orestes in his trial?

Apollo.

Who prosecutes Orestes?

The Furies, who demand justice for matricide.

Where does the trial take place, and who presides over it?

In Athens, with Athena as the judge.

How does Athena resolve the case?

She casts the deciding vote in Orestes’ favor, acquitting him.

What happens to the Furies after the trial?

They are transformed into the Eumenides ('Kindly Ones') and become protectors of justice rather than vengeance.

What is the significance of the trial?

It marks the end of the cycle of blood revenge and the establishment of legal justice.

What does The Oresteia say about justice?

It presents the evolution from personal revenge to state-sanctioned justice.

How is gender depicted in the trilogy?

Clytemnestra defies traditional gender roles, and Athena’s ruling favors the patriarchal order.

What role do the gods play in The Oresteia?

They influence human actions and represent different aspects of justice (Apollo = divine command, Athena = balance, Furies = retribution).

What is the significance of blood in the trilogy?

Blood represents both familial ties and the endless cycle of revenge.

How does the play reflect Athenian values?

It reinforces Athenian democracy and the city’s legal system.

What does the quote, 'The man who acts must suffer.' mean?

Actions have consequences, reinforcing the theme of fate and justice.

Who says, 'There is no escape from all of this—the blood that’s wrenched from you.' and why?

The Furies, emphasizing the inevitability of vengeance.

Who says, 'I embrace you... I will not bring hatred into your house.' and what does it signify?

Athena, when she pacifies the Furies, symbolizing reconciliation and justice.

How does The Oresteia resolve the conflict between revenge and justice?

Through the establishment of a legal court system, replacing personal revenge.

What role does Athena play in the trilogy’s conclusion?

She provides a fair legal judgment and pacifies the Furies, creating order.

How does Orestes’ trial parallel Athenian democracy?

It mirrors the idea of trial by jury and fair legal proceedings.

Why is The Oresteia still relevant today?

It explores themes of justice, gender roles, divine influence, and moral responsibility.

Who wrote The Bacchae, and when was it first performed?

The Bacchae was written by Euripides and was first performed posthumously in 405 BCE.

What is the central conflict in The Bacchae?

The struggle between human resistance to divine power, represented by King Pentheus’ defiance of Dionysus.

What genre does The Bacchae belong to?

It is a Greek tragedy.

What does The Bacchae explore regarding divine punishment?

It demonstrates the dangers of denying a god's divinity and the severe consequences of hubris (excessive pride).

Who is Dionysus, and why has he come to Thebes?

Dionysus is the god of wine, revelry, and theatre. He arrives in Thebes to establish his worship and punish those who deny his divinity.

Why does Dionysus seek revenge on Thebes?

The city refuses to acknowledge him as a god, especially King Pentheus, who denies his divine origins.

What happened to Semele, Dionysus’ mother?

She was tricked by Hera into asking Zeus to reveal his true form, which killed her. Her family denies that Zeus was truly her lover.

How does Dionysus punish the women of Thebes?

He drives them mad and sends them to the mountains as Bacchantes (Maenads) to worship him in ecstatic frenzy.

Who is Cadmus, and what is his role in the play?

Cadmus is the former king of Thebes and grandfather of Pentheus. He is one of the few who recognize Dionysus as a god.

What is Pentheus’ attitude toward Dionysus and his followers?

He sees Dionysus as a fraud and believes his Bacchic rites are a dangerous and immoral influence.

What does Pentheus do to Dionysus when he arrives in Thebes?

He arrests Dionysus, not realizing he is a god in disguise.

How does Dionysus escape from prison?

He uses his divine power to cause an earthquake, destroying the palace.

How does Pentheus react when told the Bacchantes are performing miracles in the mountains?

He is both fascinated and horrified, showing a subconscious curiosity about the cult.

How does Dionysus trick Pentheus?

He convinces Pentheus to disguise himself as a woman to spy on the Bacchantes.

Why does Pentheus agree to dress as a woman?

Dionysus manipulates him, playing on his curiosity and subconscious desire to experience Bacchic ecstasy.

What happens when Pentheus goes to spy on the Bacchantes?

He is mistaken for a wild animal, and the frenzied Maenads, led by his mother, Agave, tear him apart.

Why does Agave kill Pentheus?

She is under Dionysus’ spell and believes he is a lion.

How does Agave realize what she has done?

Dionysus lifts the spell, and she sees she is holding Pentheus’ severed head.

What punishment does Dionysus impose on Thebes?

He exiles Cadmus and Agave, dooming Cadmus to be transformed into a serpent.

How does The Bacchae end?

With Thebes in chaos and the gods asserting their power over mortals.

What theme does the play convey about divine power?

It warns against denying the gods and the catastrophic consequences of hubris.

What does The Bacchae suggest about the balance between order and chaos?

It shows that repressing natural instincts (Dionysian ecstasy) leads to destruction.

How does the play depict the consequences of skepticism toward the divine?

Those who deny Dionysus face extreme punishment, emphasizing faith and reverence.

What does Pentheus symbolize in the play?

Rationality, control, and resistance to change.

What do the Bacchantes represent?

The power of uninhibited worship, nature, and divine ecstasy.

How does the destruction of Pentheus reflect Greek tragic themes?

It exemplifies the downfall of a tragic hero due to excessive pride and ignorance.

What does 'The happiest life is to know one’s place in the world.' mean in context?

It warns against overstepping human limits and defying the gods.

Who says, 'You mock the god, and in mocking him, you destroy yourself.' and what does it foreshadow?

Tiresias says it, foreshadowing Pentheus’ downfall.

What lesson does 'A man, even in his wits, cannot go against the gods.' convey?

Mortal power is insignificant compared to divine will.

Who says, 'You will pay for your ignorance and your irreverence to the god.' and to whom?

Dionysus says it to Pentheus, sealing his fate.

How does The Bacchae depict the conflict between rationality and instinct?

Through Pentheus’ repression of Dionysian rituals, which ultimately leads to his destruction.

How does Dionysus' revenge demonstrate the theme of justice?

It enforces divine order by punishing those who refuse to recognize his power.

What lesson does Agave’s fate teach?

That blind submission to divine will can be as dangerous as defying it.

Why is The Bacchae considered one of Euripides' greatest works?

It masterfully blends tragedy, psychological complexity, and religious themes.

How does The Bacchae remain relevant today?

It explores themes of power, repression, fanaticism, and the dangers of denying fundamental aspects of human nature.

Where is Odysseus at the start of Book 5?

He is trapped on the island of Ogygia with the nymph Calypso.

Which god orders Calypso to release Odysseus, and how does she react?

Zeus sends Hermes to tell Calypso to let Odysseus go. She resents the gods' double standards but ultimately obeys.

How does Odysseus leave Ogygia?

He builds a raft with Calypso’s help and sets sail toward Ithaca.

What natural obstacle does Odysseus face on his journey from Ogygia?

Poseidon, still angry at Odysseus, sends a storm to wreck his raft.

Who helps Odysseus survive Poseidon’s storm?

The sea goddess Ino (Leucothea) gives him a magical veil that keeps him afloat.

Who finds Odysseus after he washes ashore in Scheria?

Nausicaa, daughter of King Alcinous.

What advice does Nausicaa give Odysseus?

She tells him to approach Queen Arete first, as she holds influence over the court.

How do the Phaeacians treat Odysseus?

They welcome him and offer hospitality, though they do not yet know his identity.

What entertainment does Odysseus witness in Scheria?

Athletic games, dancing, and a bard’s song about the Trojan War.

How does Odysseus reveal his identity to the Phaeacians?

He weeps when the bard sings about the Trojan War, prompting King Alcinous to ask who he is.

What story does Odysseus begin telling in Book 9?

His journey from Troy, including the encounter with the Cyclops Polyphemus.

How does Odysseus outsmart Polyphemus?

He gets Polyphemus drunk, blinds him, and escapes by hiding under sheep.

What mistake does Odysseus make after escaping the Cyclops?

He taunts Polyphemus and reveals his real name, leading the Cyclops to curse him with Poseidon’s wrath.

What happens when Odysseus and his crew land on Aeaea?

Circe turns some of his men into pigs.

How does Odysseus resist Circe’s magic?

Hermes gives him a magical herb called moly.

What crucial information does Circe give Odysseus?

He must visit the Underworld to seek advice from the blind prophet Tiresias.

Who does Odysseus meet in the Underworld?

Tiresias, his mother Anticleia, and fallen Greek heroes like Achilles and Agamemnon.

What warning does Tiresias give Odysseus?

He must not harm Helios' sacred cattle on Thrinacia.

How do Odysseus and his crew avoid the Sirens?

They plug their ears with wax, while Odysseus listens while tied to the mast.

What two dangers do they face after the Sirens?

Scylla (a six-headed monster) and Charybdis (a deadly whirlpool).

What happens on the island of Thrinacia?

Odysseus’ crew disobeys him and kills Helios’ cattle, resulting in their doom.

How does Odysseus return to Ithaca?

The Phaeacians provide him with a ship and treasure.

Who helps Odysseus disguise himself upon arrival?

Athena disguises him as a beggar.

Who is the first person Odysseus reveals himself to?

His loyal swineherd Eumaeus.

How does Athena help Odysseus and Telemachus reunite?

She orchestrates their meeting in Eumaeus' hut.

How does Penelope test Odysseus (disguised as a beggar)?

She asks about Odysseus' appearance and weeps at his descriptions.

What sign confirms Odysseus' identity to Eurycleia, the old nurse?

She recognizes a scar on his leg.