Frogs Quotes + general information

Question 1

When did Aristophanes first perform Frogs?

Answer 1

405BC

Question 2

What was happening in Athens when Frogs was performed?

Answer 2

Athens was at war with Sparta + their allies
Sophocles and Euripedes had died recently

Question 3

What was the war happening in Athens at the time of Frogs?

Answer 3

Peloponnesian War

Question 4

What type of humour is used to make the prologue comic?

Answer 4

Sexual humour, grotesque humour, slap stick, political + role subversion

Question 5

What does Dionysus mean when he states he is the ‘son of flagon’ and what does this parralel?

Answer 5

‘son of drink’ - parralels Bacchae where he says he is the son of Zeus

Question 6

Why is the inclusion of Heracles comic?

Answer 6

Stark contrast between Heracles and Dionysus despite both being sons of Zeus

Question 7

How is Heracles portrayed in art?

Answer 7

With a club and a lion mask, muscular + barbaric

Question 8

How is Dionysus depicted in art?

Answer 8

with a thyrsus, vines + an animal skin often accompanied with maenads and satyrs

Question 9

What is an example of a parody in Frogs?

Answer 9

When Dionysus mocks Euripedes by quoting his lines to Heracles - ‘my tongue swore not my heart’

Question 10

Example of satire in Frogs in relation to Cleisthenes

Answer 10

Mention of Cleisthenes who had an interest in men

Question 11

Examples of sature in relation to Iophon, Agathon, Xenocles

Answer 11

Dionysus insults these poets that are possibly watching in the audience

Question 12

Examples of satire in relation to Dionysus

Answer 12

Asked to row the Styx even though he is a god

Question 13

Why did the Athenians like Satire?

Answer 13

Athens was obsessed with political humour as democracy was very important to them

Question 14

What is situational comedy / farce?

Answer 14

overly ridiculous situations used to poke fun at society

Question 15

Examples of situational comedy in Frogs

Answer 15

Heracles and Dionysus interaction where Dionysus is knocking on the door and presented in Heracles’ clothes

Question 16

Examples of slapstick comedy

Answer 16

When Dionysus pretends to the be hurt by Aeacuis’ whip

Question 17

What is scatological humour

Answer 17

grotesque humour

Question 18

What is verbal humour?

Answer 18

puns and play of words

Question 19

Examples of verbal humour

Answer 19

‘ship of state… get launched’ in prologue

Question 20

Why is verbal humour difficult for the modern audience?

Answer 20

Sometimes the the translations do not mean the same thing and double meanings are lost

Question 21

What is Bathos?

Answer 21

A scene or speech with a sudden change of mood from serious to silly or vice versa

Question 22

Example of Bathos

Answer 22

Dionysus talks about the underworld as if it is a holiday destination

Question 23

Why might satire comedy in Frogs be less effective today?

Answer 23

We do not understand to the same level the current political and social themes

Question 24

What is parabasis?

Answer 24

A section of comedy in which the chorus addresses the audience directly, speaking the voice of the playwright - typically about political issues

Question 25

When is the parabasis in Frogs

Answer 25

After the 1st episode, after the whipping scene

Question 26

What points were made in the parabasis?

Answer 26

Those who participated in the battle of Arginusae be pardoned
Citizens should be excused for attacks they made under the oligarchy of 411BC
Euripedes seemingly holds up the ways of the oligarchy

Question 27

How many chorus members are there in a comedy?

Answer 27

24 (tragedy had 12 - 15)

Question 28

What quotes emphasise the comic aspect of the interations with Heracles?

Answer 28

‘one way by rope and stool’ - dark humour
‘look at that lionskin’ - visual humour

Question 29

What is the repeated call of the frogs chorus and why is it significant

Answer 29

bre-me-ke-key, co-ax, co-ax
fits the metre of the poetry perfectly

Question 30

Are animal chorus’ unusual?

Answer 30

No, birds and wasps have also been chorus’ as they are both ‘singing animals’

Question 31

What was the Anthesterion

Answer 31

A festival in honour of Dionysus

Question 32

Dionysus complains of ‘blisters on my bum’ - why is this comic

Answer 32

shows a lack of experience - experienced Athenians rowed sitting on cusions

Question 33

What is interesting about the quote “someone plays the flute inside”?

Answer 33

It signifies the presence of music, these stage directions were very rare

Question 34

How did Aeschylus win?

Answer 34

Aeschylus seems to have more input about how to save Athens which Dionysus became increasingly more interested in - “and if I were there I would tell you”

Question 35

Why was Euripedes not chosen?

Answer 35

too ‘socially dangerous’ with his poems that promoted slaves + lower class citizens

Question 36

What role did Dionysus have in the Agon?

Answer 36

The judge

Question 37

What was the Agon?

Answer 37

Contest or debate which takes two opposing characters with one prevailing victor

Question 38

Why wasn’t Sophocles participating in the Agon?

Answer 38

Aristophanes thought he was two similar to the others and it would be much more interesting if the contrast between competitors was heightened

Question 39

The Agon comes after the…

Answer 39

parabasis

Question 40

Why did Dionysus originally want Euripedes?

Answer 40

He was ‘fresh’

Question 41

Examples of Aristophanes views on democracy

Answer 41

Aeschylus - “Who does the city listen to today? Men of honour?”
Dionysus - “Oh no, it hates them most of all”

Question 42

How is the character of Euripides suggested through costume?

Answer 42

Trendy clothing to depict his modern era
Would most likely be smaller and skinnier to represent his quick wit

Question 43

How is the character of Aeschylus suggested through costume?

Answer 43

A large bulky loud man who uses aggressive gestures
Old fashioned robes to represent his traditional era
Perhaps a fat suit to portray his crude character

Question 44

What does Euripedes say about Aeschylus?

Answer 44

‘crude craftsman, a stubborn brute, uncontrolled, unbridled’

Question 45

What does Aeschylus say about Euripides?

Answer 45

‘gossip gathering, beggar-begetting, ripped rag monger’

Question 46

How much did Dionysus pay the ferry man?

Answer 46

2 oubles - funny as that was supposed to be roughly how much a ticket was

Question 47

(Quote) Charon to Dionysus

Answer 47

‘sit down fatty’