The Orestia

Literatur

where has Orestes been?

living in exile and has come back to Argos in secret.

who was Orestes sent by?

an oracle of Apollo

what happens if Orestes does not agree to murder?

Apollo has threatened him with horrible punishment

What was Electra sent to the grave?

mother wanted to bring libations to Agamemnon in the hope she could quiet the source of Clytamnestra's terrible dreams

what does chorus do at the grave?

urges them to act on their anger.

who comes to door when Orestes knocks?

Clytamnestra

who does Orestes tell Clytamnestra he is?

a stranger bearing sad news of the death of Orestes

who intervenes and tells Cilissa to come alone?

the chorus

what is the climax of the libation bearers?

as orestes resolves to carry out his vengeance on his mother

why does Orestes hesitate?

when Clytamnestra bares her breast to him and implores him to respect their bond

who steps in and reminds orestes of his duty to apollo?

Pylades

what were the bodies wrapped in?

the same shroud in which Agamemnon was killed

how is Orestes a vitim in libation bearers?

Furies retributive violence. He goes mad and flees to seek refuge

where does Orestes go after the murder?

Delphi, Apollo's shrine

why does the chorus despair at the end of libation bearers?

the cycle of bloodshed has not stopped with Orestes' action, but continues

Son of Clytamnestra and Agamemnon. The protagonist.

Orestes

Companion to Orestes, representative of Apollo

Pylades

Orestes' older sister.

Electra

The powerful wife. Tragic hero in Libation Bearers.

Clytamnestra

Simple nurse.

Cilissa

Lover of Clytamnestra.

Aigisthos

Sends an oracle to Orestes that orders him to avenge Agamemnon's murder

Apollo

Who Orestes prays to, to guide him to his quest.

Hermes

ancient spirit of vengeance

Furies

Central figure in the play

Agamemnon

Sister to Orestes, murdered by father

Iphigineia

Brother of Agamemnon

Thyestes

what is oresteia considered?

Aeschylus' greatest work, and the greatest greek tragedy

who wrote Oresteia

Aeschylus

entrance of the chorus

parodos

6 elements of tragedy?

plot, characters, verbal expression, thought song, visual adornment

tragic figure

morally good, noble, women and slaves are "inferior" and "worthless", better looking

highest most intesnse emotions

catharsis

sin or error, "tragic flaw"

hamartia

recognition and reversal

"simple' plots or action in tragedy occur when hero has reversal without recognition, complex is opposite

Who challenged who to the throne?

Thyestes challenged Atreus.

Why did Thyestes place a cure on Atreus

He killed all of Thyestes' kids, except for Aigisthos.

Agamemnom's brother

menelos

What happened to menelos?

gets lost in a storm on his way home from Troy. His wife fell in love with Paris. St

Why did the 10 year trojan war start?

Menelos' wife, Helen, fell in love with Paris.

Who was Agamemnon having an affair with? What happened to her?

Cassandra, got killed

What is tragic hero's fatal flaw?

Agamemnon and fatal flaw = cheating.

this this plot simple or complex?

...

darkness is a theme

beginning of trojan war, more darkness when he returns with cassandra, paly ends in darkness

why does the killing occur off stage

more dramatic how death was offstage, also could have been way too gruesome. Scarier with imagination

how are women portrayed?

chorus degrades them, but Cly is a very strong woman

themes

justice and revenge

what happened to electra in libation bearers?

Her mom sends her to pay respect to the dead, she had previously been forbidden to do that. Electra really wanted Cly to. Cly thought if she sent her out finally, it would please the Gods.

who are the Libation Bearers?

The children, Orestes and Electra

how does the chorus differ in LB from that in Agamemnon?

Chorus in Agamemnon is a group of older men. In LB, slave women. Mood is more sorrowful becuase they know what Cly did. No hope. Moves the plot forward

how are the themes of Justice and revenge worked out in LB and in the Eumenides?

Revenge was carried out in LB and justice in the Eumenides

what is the function of the Furies in the last play of the trilogy?

function in the beginning was torturing orestes, reminding him what he had done. Made him go crazy and feel guilty.

what did furies embody?

guilt and remorse

what was the transformation of the Furies?

from haunting, tormenting, but then they are offered things by the Gods and stopped. complete reversal. Ends on a good note.

what is the role of apollo in the play?

Apollo orders Orestes to kill them, also arranges a trial for him.

what is the function of athena and the judges in the final play

has trial to be fair about it. Didn't want Furies to be mad at her. Was on Orestes' side. Democracy and justice

what does the trilogy of the oresteia say about truth, justice, and democracy

verdict: equal. supposed to make you feel morally good after the tragedy.