FROGS🐸

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

Prologue

Dionysus appears on stage in heracles outfit with Xanthius, baggage handling act, stand up scatalogical routine, reveals Dionysus' need to get to Heracles for advice on journey to underworld, reach Heracles, he movks him put helps him in search for Euripides, gets to marsh need to cross, corpse says no, charon says yes but xanthias has to walk, frog chrous has a contest with Dionysus, reunited on other side but shale changing monster scares Dionysus who hides behind slave

Parados

EM chorus of initiates enter, invoke Iacchus to join, sing warning to those uninitiated, after hymn to Deméter and rude political abuse, xanthias and Dionysus join in and end up outside of Hades' palace

Episode 1

Aeacus answers door, mistakes Dionysus for 'dog napper Heracles' and verbally attacks him, Dionysus makes xanthias wear costume, maid says foods ready for Heracles, Dionysus makes him swap back, inn women verbally abuse him thinking he's Heracles who ate all their food, Xanthias swaps back, chorus encourage, Aeacus beats them to determine who is a god

Parabasis

Chorus invoke muses and address audience directly, give opinions on topical issues: all citizens should be treated equally, rights for generals put on trial after argenouisa, similarities between military leadership debasement and coinage

Episode 2

Slave talk between Xanthias and slave, talk about masters and how Euripides took Aeschylus' tragedy throne, Dionysus will Jude competition

Episode 2 AGON 1

Prayers, chorus evoke muses, Aeschylus swears on Olympic gods, Euripides swears on new gods

Episode 2 AGON 2- round 1

Euripides criticises overblown writing style of Aeschylus and how he treats his audience (especially prologues), praises his own clarity and focus on scenarios which his audience can engage in, Dionysus adds commentary

Episode 2 AGON 3- second round

Both criticise opponents prologues, Euripides attack on Aeschylus are verbal quips, Aeschylus criticises Euripides' predictable rhythm 'little bottle'

Episode 2 AGON 4- round 3

Parody sing lyrics, Euripides criticises predictability of words and use of refrains, Aeschylus criticises Euripides banal contempt

Episode 2 AGON 5- round 4

Aeschylus proposes weighing words, chorus are surprised, both give quotes to weigh, Aeschylus wins

Episode 2 AGON 6 - round 5

Pluto says Dionysus must judge but can take winning poet back, Dionysus asks two questions designed to get advice for Athens (what to do with Alcibiades and how to keep Athens safe) Dionysus chokes Aeschylus, chorus says Aeschylus is wise and Euripides petty

Exodus

Pluto wishes Aeschylus well and lists Athenian politicians he wants to see soon, Aeschylus let's Sophocles be his deputy, Euripides not allowed on chair

The Representation and Satire of Tragedy

1. Represent it as having a civic function

> central to Athenian life

> change the city

> the debate of what makes a good poet in the agon

> didactic function

> comedy's representation of tragedy reveals how central tragedy was to Athenian cultural life

- Euripides in Frogs: "we make people in our cities better"

- Aeschylus: "children have teachers to instruct them, young men have poets"

2. Shows the established canon of the 3 tragedians

- his focus on Sophocles, Euripides and Aeschylus demonstrates how the canon of the three great tragedians was already being established

3. Satirised Tragedy

> Dover - old ways good, new ways bad

> Kovacs - wayward

> the presentation of Euripides and Aeschylus

> high flown language of the chorus

> Frogs is dominated by the personalities if the individual tragedians and the idea that tragic poetry can save Athens: "I came down for a poet. Why? So that the city could be saved and put on plays."

> Aristophanes' satirises the tragedians themselves as well

The Role of the Gods

1. Representation of Dionysus

> Aristophanes' representation of Dionysus is far from his character in Bacchae - he is cowardly and a buffoon.

- mocking the gods in comedy was not considered blasphemous

- especially as it is at the festival to Dionysus

- Cartledge

> MacDowell - assumed

> Other comics used Dionysus' character in their plays (Cratinus' 'Dionysus as Paris')

> In Frogs, he overturns the traditional attributes of Dionysus - eg. the scene in which both he and Xanthias are whipped - they both feel pain / he is cowardly and lazy

- in Bacchae he is beautiful whereas he is out of shape and ugly in Frogs (POTS)

- he represents the 'everyman' figure, he is not unlikeable.

> Dionysus starts off as a comic character but becomes gradually less of one at the end - he is still the saviour of Athens in bringing Aeschylus back.

> Stanford - "fickle, wayward Athenians of the time"

Death and the Afterlife

1. Traditional

> Frogs depicts the traditional poetic view of the afterlife - eg. the dead as ghosts with their old personalities and memories

- Hades is neither a place of punishment or blessing, but they're prefer to be alive

2. Parodied

- many of the elements are gently parodied however: Charon the ferryman / Heracles is simply a dog-thief / Pluto is a genial host

- Dionysus travelling down to the underworld is repeating of a folkloric story-pattern of the hero travelling to the underworld alive to fulfil a quest.

3. Eleusinian Mysteries

> The Chorus of Initiates represent a strand in Greek beliefs about the afterlife, since they consist of the Eleusinian Mysteries - it was open to everyone in the Greek world

- to reveal the secrets of the cult was considered a serious offence and making fun of them would considered deeply shocking, and so Aristophanes had to deal with the subject delicately to avoid upsetting his audience

- they pray to Iacchus and Demeter

- the resurrection of Aeschylus at the end of the play is referential to the promises of the cult of being reborn after death

- A sense of Hope to the audience to be saved from their current state.

Eleusinian Mysteries

The cult of the mother goddess Demeter and a very popular Athenian festival celebrated each year for the mother and the maiden, Persephone. This cult promised all its members a blissful afterlife.

The Importance of the Polis

> the preoccupations of Athenian citizens are central to comedy's themes.

> jokes are made at social / political / domestic matters

> comedy makes fun of daily life and makes fun of its members, regardless of class

Position and Role of Women

1. Tragedy teaches them

> there are a few female characters in Frogs - although women's place in society is still discussed

- Aeschylus: "you persuaded noble ladies, wives of noble husbands, to drink hemlock because they were ashamed of your Bellerophon" ('Stheneboeas' by Euripides)

- Aeschylus argues that this portrayal of women brings shame on the whole female sex, going as far as claiming it caused an epidemic of suicide

- adulterous women (like Stheneboeas) were dangerous to the citizen rights of children and husbands and so featured heavily in both tragedy and comedy - matter of serious concern

> Dionysus also claims that Euripides' own wife was adulterous, making him a laughing stock who is unable to avoid the same fate that befell his characters

2. Polemic presentation of them

> Sexual maid

> Panoceutria and Planthane

Political Ideas and Ideals

1. Written in a time of crisis and desperate fear

> Frogs was produced at a very dark time of crisis in Athens - the impending defeat from Sparta as they ran out of manpower and money - they were at risk of exile / death or imprisonment of the whole male population / enslavement of the children and women - very real danger

2. Nostalgia in Aeschylus

> Tone of nostalgia and returning to old ways in seen in the whole of the play - Dionysus' quest

- Aeschylus winning encapsulates a desire to return to virtues of the past

- current state of Athens: "shirkers and layabouts, the cheats and villains"

- he also refers to his play 'Persae' - a time when Greece was united against a mighty power and won

- Ruffell

3. Parabasis

> THE PARABASIS - nostalgia becomes political - the imagery of the coins / the foreign stock of Athenian generals

> Aristophanes specifically gives advice on the recalling of the citizens who ruled during the oligarchic coup of 411 - this advice must have been controversial as it support traitors of democracy.

- although the advice was followed the next year, after they lost the war.

- Cartledge

Role of Slaves

1. Xanthias and Dionysus

> Frogs generates humour from the boundary between slaves and citizens

- the relationship between Dionysus and Xanthias is one of competition and 'banter'.

> Xanthias overturns the idea that slaves are inferior to free men (and even gods) and openly calls Dionysus a "fool" - outwitting him with the Heracles costume frequently

> They both turn out to be equal in withstanding pain

- Cartledge - bold

2. Pluto's slave and Xanthias

- in talking to Pluto's slave he also shows how he constantly gets away with insubordinate behaviour.

> the intelligence and resilience of the slaves could just be a feature of comedy, inverting real life to parody - much like Dionysus as the fool - it is not calling for social change

> the conversation between Pluto's slave and Xanthias would have touched a nerve with the audience - they make allegiance to each other and talk about eavesdropping and cursing their masters - revelling in it almost sexually

3. The Plataean citizen/slaves

> However, the references to the Battle of Arginusae, and the freeing of the slaves being "the only sensible thing you've done!" parallels the blurred boundary in the play

Topic Review: How does Aristophanes present tragedy? How accurate do you think his parody is?

Topic Review: Is Dionysus in Frogs simply a figure of fun? Does he tell us anything about how the Athenians views their gods?

Topic Review: What picture of the underworld do we find in Frogs?

Topic Review: What sought of stereotypes do we find in Frogs about the roles people from social positions should adopt?