Dionysus + Xanthias

Question 1

simile

“It is unfitting…

Answer 1

for men to who are poets to exchange insults like baker’s wives.” this simile evokes a character development from Dionysus despite his previous cowardice and comic dress. Shows himself as a true god of theatre and festival.

Question 2

“Lionskin on top of…

Answer 2

your little yellow number.” Heracles describing his silly outfit as well as mocking it, calling it a ‘little’ yellow number, aware that the fatsuit would make it not so.

Question 3

“It was frightened…

Answer 3

and crept down to my bowels.” scatological humour makes the god of theatre seem foolish.

Question 4

“I can pray that my judgement will…

Answer 4

be perfectly inspired” irony because he is divine, already divinely inspired.

Question 5

How does Dionysus make a political point in the Parabasis?

Answer 5

He completely changes his mind, choosing Aeschylus over Euripides, “why not?”. “taking a U turn to an easier position”.