Frogs

Question 1

“Why didn’t I fight in that sea-battle! Then I could tell you to bugger off.”

Answer 1

Xanthias - referencing the battle of Arginusae in 406BC when recruitment was extended to slaves

Question 2

What play does Dionysus say he was reading and what does this signal?

Answer 2

Dionysus says he was reading Andromeda (by Euripides). This is evidence that written texts of tragedies were available, therefore furthering Agócs point

Question 3

“even if you looked, you couldn’t find an original poet able to construct a noble phrase”

Answer 3

Dionysus on the state of tragedy after Euripides’ death

Question 4

“priest, save me - I’ll get you a drink after the show”

Answer 4

Dionysus turns to address the priest of Dionysus

Question 5

What happens in the parados of Frogs?

Answer 5

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.

Question 6

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…

Answer 6

…“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

Question 7

“you are the most cowardly of gods - and men”

Answer 7

Xanthias to Dionysus after he is scared shitless due to Aecus’ speech against Heracles

Question 8

“buffing my chick-pea”

Answer 8

euphemism referring to masturbation (said by Dionysus)

Question 9

“Xanthy Wanthy”
“if you hit me, I wouldn’t blame you”

Answer 9

Dionysus tries to persuade Xanthias to swap places for the third time

Question 10

What is the first agon?

Answer 10

Dionysus vs. the frogs (which he sort of wins)

Question 11

What is the second agon?

Answer 11

Dionysus vs. Xanthias being hit. Neither wins as it is decided that Hades will judge

Question 12

What line does the parabasis start and after what event?

Answer 12

686 - after Dionysus and Xanthias are beaten

Question 13

Comparison to coins in the parabasis?

Answer 13

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”

Question 14

“now’s the time, you silly fools, to change your ways and go for gold again”

Answer 14

Parabasis directly adresses the audience as a whole

Question 15

“men close in kin to you, should be forgiven that one disaster, should they ask”

Answer 15

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.

Question 16

Hades’ slave calls Dionysus “a decent fellow!” for not beating Xanthias for talking back. What is Xanthias’ response?

Answer 16

“all he cares about is boozing and bonking” - could be used in a question on Dionysus

Question 17

What do the two slaves talk about outside of Hades’ house?

Answer 17

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)

Question 18

“What? They’re going to weigh up tragedy like a lump of meat?”

Answer 18

Xanthias on hearing that they are going to judge Aeschylus and Euripides

Question 19

“my poetry has not died with me as it has with him. He has his works with him to recite”

Answer 19

Aeschylus says this about Euripides. Another point about the newly discovered art of literary criticism and analysis

Question 20

Euripides prays to different gods

Answer 20

Aristophanes portrays Euripides as going against tradition

Question 21

“first, I’ll cross-examine this man”

Answer 21

Another link between Euripides and the sophists

Question 22

“my drama was democratic”

Answer 22

Euripides - says he let slaves and women speak just as much as their masters in his plays

Question 23

A: “why should we admire a poet?”
E: “for his cleverness and good advice. Because we make people in our cities better”

Answer 23

Aristophanes on value of tragedians

Question 24

“a poet should keep bad examples hidden, not parade them or use them to teach”

Answer 24

Aeschylus

Question 25

“it’s not like that any more. They’ve all seen combat; they’ve got the book and grasped the finer points. Born with natural talent, now they’re razor sharp. So don’t be nervous, come on out and face them, for the audience, at any rate, is smart”

Answer 25

The Chorus reassure Euripides and Aeschylus that the audience will understand them

Question 26

Who does Dionysus say is lucky not to have held command with Erasinides (one of the 8 generals from arginusae)

Answer 26

Oedipus

Question 27

“this little bottle pops up in your prologues like a stye in the eye!”

Answer 27

Dionysus tells Euripides to stop reciting his prologues - to each one Aeschylus has been able to predictably insert “…lost his little bottle”

Question 28

“I came down for a poet. Why? So that the city could be saved and put on plays. Whoever seems most likely to give useful advice to the city, he’s the one I think I should take”

Answer 28

Dionysus before making his final decision

Question 29

Dionysus hits back at Euripides’ claim he swore to take him home by saying ‘it was my tongue that swore’

Answer 29

This is the same line of Euripides’ Hippolytus which he claimed to love earlier

Question 30

What happens in the exodos of Frogs?

Answer 30

Dionysus, Xanthias and Aeschylus return to Athens. Hades speaks of the people who he wishes to reach him soon - including Cleophon

Question 31

“I say their slip should be overlooked and,
once they’ve explained themselves, the slate wiped clean.”

Answer 31

The parabasis on those who followed Phrynicus in the oligarchy of 411BC - saying they should be forgiven