Frogs: Quotes by Theme + analysis +
scholarship
Old vs new
- Peloponnesian war since 431BC and play was written 9 months
before athens lost. Dionysus (and aristophanes) believes Euripides
and the older generation of Tragedians taught Athenians how to be
good citizens and live virtuously.
- “ Lycia and Ameipsias always have baggage-handling routines” “I
come away with a year off my life” Prologue – establishes
contemporary comedy as vapid and even harmful compared to
Euripides, Sophocles, Aeschylus.
- “I need a good poet. Those that aren’t dead are dreadful” Prologue –
emphasises the quality of older poets compared to contemporary
ones
- “once they’ve got their hands on a tragic chorus, they piss on the
opportunity and vanish” Prologue – chorus often provided audience
perspective, showing audience how to feel and act. Criticises
contemporary tragedies for not utilising it to teach Athenians
- “misguided souls who no longer know how to differentiate between
good, noble people and scoundrels”
Agon
- Coin metaphor – “we used to have good coinage – of pure metal,
now.. bad counterfeit ones alongside the good ones” “just as we do
with out currency, we do with our men”
- Aeschylus wins competition
SCHOLARSHIP
- Bakola – Euripides is the poet of clever craft
- Redfield – the conflict between Aeschylus and Euripides is a poetic
expression of the conflict between old and new politics
- Gomme – Aristophanes shouldn’t not be taken seriously in political
terms
- Redfield – The victory of Aeschylus is a rejection of the new lifestyle,
a return to the old moral centre
, Athenian Democracy
- “and the other one’s made of cow-poo as you can tell” Prologue –
Xanthias references Empusa’s smell, referring to the audience. Hints
at the later criticism the audience will face
- “while creaming off that five percent” Chorus of Initiates, Parados –
Political leader imposes new tax on maritime imports and exports.
Demonstrates Aristophanes’ criticisms of Athens’ corrupt political
state
- “To the saviour.. whatever Thorycion thinks” officer shamed for
wartime corruption and profiteering.
- “taking a U turn towards an easier position… a true Theramenes”
Chorus of Initiates, Parados – when talking about Dionysus switching
costumes with Xanthias. References politicians struggling to present
U turns convincingly and risking mockery. Theramenes a naval
officer frequently changed sides between Athens and Sparta.
- “honestly, what men we choose!” Chorus leader
- “A poet should teach people how to be better citizens” Euripides
- “you can’t get the wealthy to pay.. they dress up in rags and claim
exemption on the grounds of poverty” – deception of the powerful
SCHOLARSHIP
- Battendorf – The primary function of the play is not literary criticism
but political action
- Jones - Comedy is not an effective medium for political intervention
scholarship
Old vs new
- Peloponnesian war since 431BC and play was written 9 months
before athens lost. Dionysus (and aristophanes) believes Euripides
and the older generation of Tragedians taught Athenians how to be
good citizens and live virtuously.
- “ Lycia and Ameipsias always have baggage-handling routines” “I
come away with a year off my life” Prologue – establishes
contemporary comedy as vapid and even harmful compared to
Euripides, Sophocles, Aeschylus.
- “I need a good poet. Those that aren’t dead are dreadful” Prologue –
emphasises the quality of older poets compared to contemporary
ones
- “once they’ve got their hands on a tragic chorus, they piss on the
opportunity and vanish” Prologue – chorus often provided audience
perspective, showing audience how to feel and act. Criticises
contemporary tragedies for not utilising it to teach Athenians
- “misguided souls who no longer know how to differentiate between
good, noble people and scoundrels”
Agon
- Coin metaphor – “we used to have good coinage – of pure metal,
now.. bad counterfeit ones alongside the good ones” “just as we do
with out currency, we do with our men”
- Aeschylus wins competition
SCHOLARSHIP
- Bakola – Euripides is the poet of clever craft
- Redfield – the conflict between Aeschylus and Euripides is a poetic
expression of the conflict between old and new politics
- Gomme – Aristophanes shouldn’t not be taken seriously in political
terms
- Redfield – The victory of Aeschylus is a rejection of the new lifestyle,
a return to the old moral centre
, Athenian Democracy
- “and the other one’s made of cow-poo as you can tell” Prologue –
Xanthias references Empusa’s smell, referring to the audience. Hints
at the later criticism the audience will face
- “while creaming off that five percent” Chorus of Initiates, Parados –
Political leader imposes new tax on maritime imports and exports.
Demonstrates Aristophanes’ criticisms of Athens’ corrupt political
state
- “To the saviour.. whatever Thorycion thinks” officer shamed for
wartime corruption and profiteering.
- “taking a U turn towards an easier position… a true Theramenes”
Chorus of Initiates, Parados – when talking about Dionysus switching
costumes with Xanthias. References politicians struggling to present
U turns convincingly and risking mockery. Theramenes a naval
officer frequently changed sides between Athens and Sparta.
- “honestly, what men we choose!” Chorus leader
- “A poet should teach people how to be better citizens” Euripides
- “you can’t get the wealthy to pay.. they dress up in rags and claim
exemption on the grounds of poverty” – deception of the powerful
SCHOLARSHIP
- Battendorf – The primary function of the play is not literary criticism
but political action
- Jones - Comedy is not an effective medium for political intervention
