Frogs Flashcards
(32 cards)
“Why didn’t I fight in that sea-battle! Then I could tell you to bugger off.”
Xanthias - referencing the battle of Arginusae in 406BC when recruitment was extended to slaves
What play does Dionysus say he was reading and what does this signal?
Dionysus says he was reading Andromeda (by Euripides). This is evidence that written texts of tragedies were available, therefore furthering Agócs point
“even if you looked, you couldn’t find an original poet able to construct a noble phrase”
Dionysus on the state of tragedy after Euripides’ death
“priest, save me - I’ll get you a drink after the show”
Dionysus turns to address the priest of Dionysus
What happens in the parados of Frogs?
The chorus enter from lines 316-459. Dionysus and Xanthias have noticed them coming and crouched down - therefore highlighting the chorus - the Initiates of the Mysteries.
The chorus list people not allowed to join in the mysteries - they include Cratinus, people who take advantage of the 5% tax, and those who can’t take a joke…
…“when mocked in our traditional worship of Dionysus”
- this mocks Cleon, who had tried to prosecute Aristophanes for slandering the city after his play Babylonians in 426BC
“you are the most cowardly of gods - and men”
Xanthias to Dionysus after he is scared shitless due to Aecus’ speech against Heracles
“buffing my chick-pea”
euphemism referring to masturbation (said by Dionysus)
“Xanthy Wanthy”
“if you hit me, I wouldn’t blame you”
Dionysus tries to persuade Xanthias to swap places for the third time
What is the first agon?
Dionysus vs. the frogs (which he sort of wins)
What is the second agon?
Dionysus vs. Xanthias being hit. Neither wins as it is decided that Hades will judge
What line does the parabasis start and after what event?
686 - after Dionysus and Xanthias are beaten
Comparison to coins in the parabasis?
Aristophanes compares the “finest men” to true vintage coins, whereas during the war they had to use bronze coated in silver rather than pure - he compares this to the “base-metalled, copper-topped foreigners and criminals we rely on for everything”
“now’s the time, you silly fools, to change your ways and go for gold again”
Parabasis directly adresses the audience as a whole
“men close in kin to you, should be forgiven that one disaster, should they ask”
the parabasis argues for the forgiving of the generals and everyone at Arginusae - who had failed to collect the shipwrecked due to a storm and were being prosecuted for it.
Hades’ slave calls Dionysus “a decent fellow!” for not beating Xanthias for talking back. What is Xanthias’ response?
“all he cares about is boozing and bonking” - could be used in a question on Dionysus
What do the two slaves talk about outside of Hades’ house?
How they love to grumble, curse behind their masters backs, and spread gossip about them - this may reflect contemporary Athenian anxieties about living amongst slaves - that they would gossip about them, and bear in mind that 20,000 slaves deserted to Decelea (hence why they were allowed to join the Athenian navy for Arginusae)
“What? They’re going to weigh up tragedy like a lump of meat?”
Xanthias on hearing that they are going to judge Aeschylus and Euripides
“my poetry has not died with me as it has with him. He has his works with him to recite”
Aeschylus says this about Euripides. Another point about the newly discovered art of literary criticism and analysis
Euripides prays to different gods
Aristophanes portrays Euripides as going against tradition
“first, I’ll cross-examine this man”
Another link between Euripides and the sophists
“my drama was democratic”
Euripides - says he let slaves and women speak just as much as their masters in his plays
A: “why should we admire a poet?”
E: “for his cleverness and good advice. Because we make people in our cities better”
Aristophanes on value of tragedians
“a poet should keep bad examples hidden, not parade them or use them to teach”
Aeschylus
