Aristophanes' Frogs: A level Greek Theatre Revision OCR

What is an agon?

an argument or debate

What is an exodus?

The final, or exit scene, of the play.

What is the parodos?

entrance of the chorus- 24 Athenian men in costumed payed for by the choregos

What is the parabasis?

A section of a comedy in which the chorus addresses the audience directly, speaking in the voice of the playwright

What are the Eleusinian Mysteries?

-They were an important cult in Athens in honour of Demeter and Persephone, both fertility goddesses. The practices of the mysteries were secret but the procession (22km long) was public. Inclusive in regards to attendees: women, slaves, poor people. Promised rebirth.

-The chorus of initiates were initiates of the Mysteries

Attitudes towards them: arguably respected as the initiates are one of the few aspects of the play which are not mocked, they sing beautiful songs and are portrayed seriously. Audience would have reacted well towards their presence in the play as they had been unable to practice the Eleusinian Mysteries during the Peloponnesian war as they had been under siege.

Examples of scatological humour

-

Examples of slapstick/farce humour

Examples of the fourth wall being broken

- D and X talking about theatre, X wants to know why he can't do anything like what's in Phrynichus' plays.

-D calling the audience father killers and oath breakers

Examples of visual humour

-The donkey: would have been an actor in a donkey costume, idea of them trying to carry a donkey- would the actor leap in to his arms?

-The Heracles costume: Dionysus in a long yellow robe (his + funny because yellow was a colour worn by women) but with a lionskin on top and holding a club (Heracles)- funny because he looks ridiculous and some argue it is partly because he's fat (D known for gluttony + Charon calls him 'fatty'), also funny because he looks ridiculous in garments belonging to a renowned heroic man.+ D and X swapping costumes

-The maids and female innkeepers are male actors dressed as women

-Chorus of frogs- normally human

Examples of Satire

Examples of humour regarding 'the body'

-'he drew his sword' Greek word for sword is phallus+ the quote is a euphemism for an erection.

-'shift your pole around'

Examples of verbal/linguistic humour

-Necrophilia joke- D is craving Euripides even though he is dead

-Heracles suggesting the ways in which D can kill himself to get to the Underworld: hemlock, hanging, ironic because D is a god so he can't die

-Noise made by the frogs

Battle of Arginusae

406 BCE, happened during the Peloponnesian War

Presentation of the gods

Inferred Athenian life and society

-Homosexual relationships were disapproved of unless it was pederasty (Heracles asking Dionysus what kind of desire he has),funny to the ancients because it would make him appear feminine

Characterisation of Dionysus

-complete opposite of what is expected from a god

-called cowardly by Xanthiss for being scared of Aecus 'I've made a craprifice'

-Effeminate (hinted attraction to men and wearing of yellow), however may be due to Dio being almost a foreigner as he spent much time in Asia according to the Bacchae, Greeks saw foreigners as feminine

Characterisation of Xanthias

Aeschylus

-old fashioned, represents old Athens

-the first tragic writer

-poetic and flowery language

-soldier

-had the title of best tragic writer in the underworld before Euripides died

-not at all erotic, but demure

-only wrote about men

-his plays taught how to fight

-Homeric tone

-brooding silences

-inspiring uplift

-long choral odes

Euripides

-consummate craftsman

-Modern writer, represents new Athens

-had recently died when Frogs was written

-wrote about women

-made his characters more realistic

-used Homeric language to describe heroes in battle

-wanted to teach through his work

-wrote about scandalous eroticism

-put kings in rags

Reaction from an ancient audience

-they watched plays at the Dionysia every year so we're used to making judgements and deciding which play was the best in the competition

-probably would have found the political humour funny as the best humour is often derived from fact

Reaction from a modern audience

-would struggle to understand the political humour

-would find humour in what has not changed since antiquity: e.g. scatological and bodily humour, as well has the visual humour as a part of costuming and props (donkey, male actors dressed as women, Dionysus wearing Heracles' clothes)

Power dynamic between Aeschylus and Euripides

Dramatic techniques

City Dionysia Festival

Presentation of Religion

Political context

Chorus' role

Chorus' humour

New ways vs Old ways

Criticism of Tragedy

-Characters use tragic language: 'Alas, poor me!' 'Whence came this dreadful calamity?'

-Euripides criticises Aeschylus' tragedies for being too wordy

Overall message of The Frogs

How/where would props be used

Props

Ekkyklema: a wheeled platform- would have been used in Frogs in the rowing scene to the Underworld- comic because it doesn't look like a boat

Aristophanes' views

-In favour of peace with Sparta

-in favour of giving back citizen rights to the oligarchs and their supporters

-against the demagogues (politicians who seek support by appealing to desires and prejudices of the people rather than using a rational argument) such as Cleophon who want to keep fighting

-in favour of the wealthier, better educated classes as being more responsible leaders

-Wanted to bring back Alcibiades (a prominent Athenian general whose family fell from favour during the P war)

-conservative traditional values of the 'better' old Athens

However, can we argue that the views of the chorus align with those of Aristophanes? (although during the parabasis the chorus were thought to be speaking as the writer)

Mentioned politicians: Callias

Extremely wealthy Athenian. Torch bearer in the Eleusinian procession. Son of Hipponicus whose name Aristophanes alters to Hippoknickers, thus changing the meaning from horse victor to horse bonker- humour

Mentioned politicians: Theramenes

Powerful. Helped to establish and overthrow The Four Hundred. Negotiated peace with Sparta. One of the 30 tyrants post-war regime. His views led to his execution.

Mentioned politicians: Cleophon

An opponent of peace in Sparta. Prominent demagogue once democracy was restored. Chorus hint at his rhetoric style and ambition. Tried for treason. His execution paved the way for Theramenes to negotiate peace.

Mentioned politicians: Phrynichus

One of the Four Hundred. Chorus advocate for anyone forced into following his lead. (The Four Hundred= short lived oligarchy which overthrew the democratic government following the Peloponnesian War)

Mentioned politicians: Cleisthenes

Cleisthenes: ridiculed for his sexual desperation and passive homosexuality. Mentioned in almost all of Aristophanes' plays. Wealthy Athenians such as he would have been subject to a special type of taxation which involved sponsoring a play or funding triremes (ancient war ships)

Mentioned politicians: Cleigenes

A minor political figure made to sound like a nasty individual

Characterisation of the Underworld

Appears civilised, liveable and not too dissimilar to the regular world due to the presence of ports, bakeries, rest areas, cities, landladies etc

what is the "sea-battle" Xanthias refers to in line 34?

The battle of Arginusae in 406BC

who is Cleisthenes?

'Father of democracy' often mocked in Aristophanes' plays for his passive homosexuality

what is Dionysus wearing when he meets Heracles?

a yellow gown under a lion skin, with a club and boots

what are the names of the two innkeepers?

Plathane and Pandoceutria

what Athenian insecurity is expressed through the conversation between Xanthias and Pluto's slave?

the untrustworthy nature of slaves
they insult their masters behind their backs and discuss how fun it is to spread gossip to outsiders

what impression of Euripides is given by the slaves in their discussion?

he is arrogant and supported by "villains and muggers" implying his work is more simplistic and promotes bad morals

what impression of Aeschylus is given by the slaves in their discussion?

he is talented ("supreme in his craft") and is morally good ("did Aeschylus have no other supporters?" "there's not much good down here")

Style points on the frog scene

Pathetic portrayal of Dionysus

Him paying for the journey having done all the work

Absurd nature of the language and scene

The Frogs making bizarre noises and Dionysus copying

Insults he exchanges with the Frogs

This passage would be accompanied by movement and music which may add comedy

Possible dancing of Frog Chorus

Satirical reference to the audience allows them to laugh at themselves

Reference to the audience as murderers and perjurers

movement/visuals from the chorus

visual reactions to events (Contest between Aeschylus and Dionysus)

what they did in terms of dance and movement: o ballet like dancing during the Choral Odes o frogs hopping around the stage o initiates dreamy o bacchants wild and possessed o Theban Elders slower like the old men they are

-how the appearance of the Chorus contributed to their role within the play

>their appearance showed their personalities (Frogs lively and bouncy, Bacchants wild and untamed, Theban Elders wise and sensible)

>costumes and masks of these figures gives visual impact

>how visually striking the costumes might be; vivid animal costumes in Frogs and Bird Chorus; exotic appearance of the Bacchants and Satyr Chorus; but Theban Elders and Initiates fairly staid and boring o dancing and movement provides variation to the acting o acting during scenes provides an alternative focus to actors

-evidence from the Basel Dancers source, Bird Chorus pot, Satyr Cast pot

in Comedy the Chorus

provide additional humour

comment on action

gives background information

give the parabasis

Comedy

addition of humour makes the audience laugh

comment on the action summarises what the audience might be thinking

information on events in the play gives background to the plot

social/political comment makes the audience think about everyday issues

Parabasis directly gives the audience the opinions of the author

Is comedy useful in discerning information about the ancient society

Frogs

-fantastical setting of the Underworld in the Frogs

-comic techniques

>scatological (Dionysus soiling himself in fear)

>slapstick (bottom whacking contest)

>verbal puns and jokes (methods of getting to the Underworld)

-political and social message given in the Parabasis of the Frogs

-parody of Aeschylus’ and Euripides’ plays