The Bacchae Flashcards
(33 cards)
How is Dionysus a God who blurs boundaries?
He crosses the boundary of human animal manaeds breast feed animals. There is a lexical field of hunting pentheus threatens to hunt the Maenads.
Wha do the maenads look like?
Often have hair don with ivy garlands braided in, they’re wear fawn skins and carry thyrsi.
What is the Bacchae?
Play written in the 5th century BC by Euripides depicting te wrath of Dionysus against those who would question his ability as a god, dealing with themes of justice religion and identity.
What does Richard Seaford believe about the missing portions of the play?
The missing portions of the play included Dionysus proclaiming the establishment of the cutlet of Dionysus in Thebes
What sort of mask may the actor playing Dionysus wear?
Many scholars believe that he wore a mask with a smile, making his character more sinister and sadisitic
What is focalisation and how is it used in the Bacchae?
Focalisation: from whose perspective do you see events
In the Bacchae focalisation is done through the messages speeches, pentheus’ sparagmos is focalised through the messenger who is his slave and feel sympathy for him.
What does Edith hall say about Dionysus?
“Dionysus is the most frightening picture of go head in Greek tragedy”
He toys with people in a highly cruel way and his punishments are excessive, he revels in pain.
Tragedy according to Aristotle ?
- must include a high status protagonist who makes a mistake called Hamartia
- hamartia bring about a reversal in fortunes called a perimeter
- after the perimeter they undergo an agnorsis which is moment of realisation leading to a purging of negative emotions calllled the catharsis
When does Pentheus change his viewpoint?
When pentheus is threatening to attack the maenads, Dionysus utter the word “ah..” after this pentheus attitude changes and he agrees to dress up as a maenad and observe them.
Some suggest this could be his true nature revealing itself and his true desire to actually see the maenads
What does Brenda Seidensteker say about the play?
“Play is a vexing game of cat and mouse”
Dionysus toys with pentheus by altering his sight to show him a bull rather than dionysus.
How may special effect have been used in the Bacchae?
When Dionysus causes pentheus’ palace to fall:
- some kind of earthquake/ falling of pillars could be done by rolling cage of stone to imitate the sound
- fire could be blown by bellow to make it spark up.
How do the maxis on the tempe of Apollo at Delphi link to the play?
“Nothing in excess” the excessive behaviours of tyrants such as pentheus
“Know thyself” Pontus does not know himself and this leads him to act erratically
How does Dionysus look in the play?
He does not wrestle so he is skinny , he has long curly hair that pentheus describes as seductive, are innate , rosy cheeks.
Very pale and has not been in the sun which is typical for women at this time but not men.
He is so beautiful he hunts Aphrodite with his busty, he wants sex
What is an amphora?
Large vase/ pot for storing oils
What is a Kylix?
Type of. Pot for drinking wine from
What was the significance of the maenads holding thyrsi?
Thrusts was a phallic symbol of power so it is progressive for women to be holding these and using them as weapons against others.
What is a thrysus?
Wand /stick with a pine cone on top
What is an example of the Bacchae being used as a message against tyranny/
55BC roman legion lead by tyrant Crassus if deafeated by Greeks who stage a play of the Bacchae using Crassus served head as pentheuses
What is a sparagmos?
Ripping someone apart for sacrifice/ to kill them
Who are ino, Agave and Semele?
Semele- Dionysus’ mother
Agave- mother of pentheus who performs sparagmos on pentheus after being driven mad by Dionysus
Ino- aunt of pentheus who is alo driven mad by Dionysus
What was Sophrosyne?
Having a measure of control
Why did Greek have messenger speeches?
-religious reason as plays were performed in a religious sanctuary and it was believed showing deaths on stage brought miasma
- practical reason as it takes the audience elsewhere without the challenges of staging it
What does Rosie wyles say about messenger speeches?
They allow actors to show range and use graphic and evocative language
Edith hall on messenger speeches?
“Messenger speeches are mini epics” the encapsulate all the drama that can’t be shown on stage.
