lessons 32-38- The Agon in 'Frogs' Flashcards
What was an ‘Agon’?
A formal debate which could be found in both Tragedy and Comedy. The term ‘agon’ literally means competition, and is where we get our word ‘agony’ as it links to the pain athletes would subject themselves in order to win an athletic competition
What opportunity did the agon offer?
In drama, it was an opportunity for the playwright to showcase opposing arguments
what was the difference between Agon’s in tragedy in comparison to Agon’s in comedy?
In Tragedy, the agon rarely reaches a conclusion. In fact, it often lead to both sides being more polarised than they were before. In Tragedy, the playwright can also debate issues of contemporary interest such as the nature of the monarchy or the role of religion.
In comedy however, the agon can often drive the action and may influence how events turn out in the end. The Agon in comedy generally involves one character convincing another to go along with their plan which will ‘save the day’.
What are the key features of the Agon in Frogs?
- The agon is the centrepiece of the play as it is used to help Dionysus choose which playwright he wishes to return with to save the city (He initially travels down to retrieve Euripides, but makes the decision to take Aeschylus instead).
- Although Dionysus can not make the decision himself, the agon is instrumental in allowing aeschlyus to showcase his talents and emerge the victor.
The Agon in ‘Frogs’ allows Aristophanes to do what to Aeschylus and Euripides?
The agon gives the opportunity for Aristophanes to satirise both Aeschylus and Euripides, and indeed the tragic genre in general, through a brilliant caricature of both playwrights. It also allows Aristophanes to compare their tragic styles and their respective moral stances as well.
who is the Agon introduced by in ‘Frogs’?
The chorus of initiates
What do many suggest that the purpose of the first Agon is in ‘Frogs’?
The first agon is a general set up to the contest between the two playwrights- Aeschylus and Euripides. This is the first appearance of the two playwrights in Frogs and it starts with general bickering and them throwing insults at each other. Both make opening prayers to their ‘gods’- Aeschylus to traditional gods, Euripides to the ‘new gods’.
In part two of the Agon, what do the chorus feel is the importance of this contest?
The chorus sees the importance of this contest and allows Dionysus to choose which playwright would be the most sensible option for Athens. The chorus also sings to the muses and indicates its eagerness for battle (possibly hinting towards the fact Aeschylus will win, as he emphasises the importance of the military later in the agon) The two poets raise up their prayers to their respective gods, and the battle begins.
in summary, what happens in part two of the agon?
The second part of the agon involves the two poets exchanging very technical arguments regarding one another’s poetic metre, choice of subject matter and lyric style.
what criticisms does Euripides have of Aeschylus’ prologue to the oresteia in part two of the agon?
Euripides exploits a lack of clarity as to whose ‘realm’ (land) Orestes means when he says Hermes is the guardian of his father’s realm . Euripides thinks that it is Agammemnon’s land, and argues that no god can possibly have been watching over, given Agamemnon’s brutal murder on his return from Troy. Aeschylus explains that Hermes was not watching over Agammemnon’s land of Argos, but the realm of the dead, where Agammemnon was. Even though Hermes was responsible for the transportation of the dead into the underworld, this still leaves a problem because Hermes was the son of Zeus, not Hades, king of the underworld.
what is Aeschylus’ play ‘Oresteia’ about?
The Oresteia is a play about Clytemnestra’s murder of her husband, Agamemnon when he returns from Troy after he had sacrificed their daughter, iphegenia at the bequest of the gods for favourable wind. Orestes, the son of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, then kills his mother in revenge, as Apollo demanded.
what Criticisms does Aeschylus have of Euripides’ prologue to Oedipus?
Aeschylus attacks Euripides prologues- Euripides begins his play ‘Oedipus’ with the line ‘Oedipus was at first a lucky man’- Aeschylus argues that Oedipus was never lucky due to his inevitable fate- he murdered his own father, married his mother and blinded himself.
what happens in part three of the Agon?
Aeschylus and Euripides start ripping into each other’s use of lyric passages and the use of the chorus.
what happens in part four of the agon?
The works of Euripides and Aeschylus are weighed to find out which is heavier
how does part four of the agon showcase a potential use of special effects?
It is believed that the mechane was used to create the scales for the agon- this scale would be used to weigh the works of both playwrights, Euripides and Aeschylus
what was the mechane?
The mechane was a special effect device which acted as a crane; this was positioned behind the skene and used to hoist characters into the air above the roof.
What does Scholar Redfield say in relation to the victory of Aeschylus?
“The victory of Aeschylus is a rejection of the new lifestyle, a return to the old moral centre”
