comedy/humour in frogs Flashcards
What is visual slapstick?
grotesque, falls, trips etc
What is verbal humour?
Jokes, swearing
What is farce humour?
Exaggeration
What are topical allusions?
References to historical events/knowledge
What is situation comedy?
People finding themselves in circumstances they aren’t usually in + they attempt to deal w it
What is scatological humour?
References to bodily functions
What is visual sight/gag humour?
Physical appearance
Why is the prologue comedic?
Dionysus + Xanthias are a double act
They are bickering about travelling
Why does Heracles find Dionysus funny looking?
Dionysus is dressed as Heracles wearing lionskin
What humour does Heracles refer to when talking about the river?
Scatological humour
Why is the chorus of frogs comedic?
Because they aren’t making accurate frog noises
What interaction does Dionysus have with the frogs?
Dionysus is getting angry with the frogs for being loud
He starts to argue with them saying he can make better frog sounds than them
Why is X + D getting to the river w monsters comedic?
Dionysus, the god is hiding behind Xanthias, the mortal
Explain the comedy of Dionysus’ interaction when he sees Empusa
He breaks the 4th wall, speaking to his priest who would be sat in the audience + asks him for help
What’s comedic about the interaction bet X+D after Aeacus verbally attacks D?
Dionysus is on the floor + says he feels faint
Xanthias is calling him a coward
Comedic bc the slave is having to put Dionysus, the God in his place
Why is the interaction X+D have w the Maid comedic?
Dionysus has switched costumes w Xanthias so X is now dressed as Heracles
D doesn’t want to go in because he’s dressed as a slave + wants to swap costumes w X again
Why is the interaction bet X + D comedic after being cursed at by the innkeepers?
Dionysus wants to swap costumes w Xanthias again so he doesn’t have to take the blame for Heracles
What does Xanthias tell Aeacus to do?
He tells him to punish his slave (Dionysus) to pay for his (Heracles’) mistakes
What does Dionysus claim to Aeacus?
He claims he is a God
What does Xanthias claim after Dionysus claims he is a God?
X says Gods can’t feel pain - this isn’t true
What does Aeacus say he will do?
He will torture both X + D - whoever feels pain is the slave + therefore lying
What is comedic about the X + D torture scene? What does A do?
They both exclaim with pain but try to pass it off as excitement/reaction for smth else
A can’t figure out who the slave is so he sends them in for Pluto to identify them
Why is the interaction bet Xanthias + the slave comedic?
It gives insight into the way slaves interact - they’re talking about their masters behind their backs
Why is it comedic when Dionysus is judging Euripides’ remarks about Aeschylus?
Dionysus is meant to be indifferent but he openly takes Euripides’ side
What does Euripides compare Aeschylus’ tragedy’s to?
An obese woman that he feeds with overweight words
What does Dionysus say about the Athenians that is comedic?
After Euripides’ death, the Athenians are now stupid and don’t know how to look for things
What is comical about Aeschylus’ insults towards Euripides?
The frequent reference to the little bottle of olive oil
