Bacchae Quotes

Question 1

DIONYSUS - ‘but if in anger the city of thebes attempts to take the baccants from the mountain with military force, i shall fight them, commanding my maenads.’

Answer 1

DIONYSUS - greek gods as not admirable (start of play, lines 38 - 40)

Question 2

DIONYSUS - greek gods as not admirable (start of play, lines 38 - 40)

Answer 2

but if in anger the city of thebes attempts to take the baccants from the mountain with military force, i shall fight them, commanding my maenads.

Question 3

CHORUS - ‘far from their shuttles and their looms’

Answer 3

demonstrates a rejection of female expectations

Question 4

CHORUS - demonstrates a rejection of female expectations in the first ode

Answer 4

‘far from their shuttles and their looms’

Question 5

PENTHEUS - ‘cutting his head from his body’

Answer 5

dramatic irony said by Pentheus to punish Dionysus

Question 6

dramatic irony said by Pentheus to punish Dionysus

Answer 6

PENTHEUS - ‘cutting his head form his body’

Question 7

‘Blessed is he who knows the rites of the god, who leads a life of reverence, whose spirit is one with the sacred band’

Answer 7

CHORUS - dionysus is not a god to be understood, the only way you can protect yourself from him is to embrace irrationality, also outlines Pentheus’ mistake of if he let go of his pride he may have prevented his mistake

Question 8

CHORUS - dionysus is not a god to be understood, the only way you can protect yourself from him is to embrace irrationality, also outlines Pentheus’ mistake of if he let go of his pride he may have prevented his mistake

Answer 8

‘Blessed is he who knows the rites of the god, who leads a life of reverence, whose spirit is one with the sacred band’

Question 9

CHORUS - ‘The ground flows with milk, flows with wine, and honey’

Answer 9

The earth responds to the magic of the rites, also, ‘milk’ hints at the theme of fertility - Dionysus is often associated with rebirth

Question 10

CHORUS - The earth responds to the magic of the rites

Answer 10

‘The ground flows with milk, flows with wine, and honey’

Question 11

‘Dionysus destroyed us; now I understand’

Answer 11

AGAVE, line 1125

Question 12

AGAVE, destruction quote

Answer 12

‘Dionysus destroyed us; now I understand’

Question 13

PENTHEUS, sacrifice quote

Answer 13

‘I will sacrifice a great slaughter of women’

Question 14

‘I will sacrifice a great slaughter of women’

Answer 14

PENTHEUS, line 662

Question 15

‘he will be punished by death’

Answer 15

DIONYSUS, line 717

Question 16

DIONYSUS, Pentheus’ ultimate fate

Answer 16

‘he will be punished by death’

Question 17

PENTHEUS, Pentheus’ question while wearing womens clothing

Answer 17

‘How do I look?’

Question 18

‘How do I look?’

Answer 18

Pentheus’ question while wearing womens clothing, line 783

Question 19

‘I am the only Theban man enough to dare this deed’

Answer 19

Pentheus before entering the Bacchants grove - dressed as a woman, line 820

Question 20

Pentheus before entering the Bacchants grove - dressed as a woman

Answer 20

‘I am the only Theban man enough to dare this deed’

Question 21

What epithet does the messenger used for pentheus before describing his death?

Answer 21

‘poor pentheus’

Question 22

What does Pentheus say to his mother before she kills him?

Answer 22

‘Mother I am your son, Pentheus, the son you gave birth to in the house of Echion! Take pity on me mother’

Question 23

What quote is used to describe Agave’s ‘win’ at the death of her son Pentheus?

Answer 23

‘but through him she wins tears as her prize’

Question 24

What does Cadmus say to accuse Dionysus?

Answer 24

‘you punish too severely!’

Question 25

What word illustrates how the Chorus, unlike usual theatre, take a definitive side against Pentheus?

Answer 25

‘Blasphemy’