Aristophanes - the most famous ancient Greek comedian, he was nicknamed “the father of comedy”. In this article we will talk about one of his most famous plays - “Frogs”. Consider its summary, a brief analysis and provide feedback from those who read it.
Background
It has some relation to the ancient Greek history of the comedy that Aristophanes wrote. “Frogs” (a brief summary is presented below) is therefore worth reading after a short explanation.
In Athens lived three famous writers of tragedies throughout Greece: the oldest of them was Aeschylus, the middle was Sophocles and the youngest was Euripides. At the same time, Aeschylus was considered majestic and powerful, Sophocles - harmonious and clear, and Euripides - paradoxical and intense. By the time of the writing of the comedy, all the playwrights were already dead, and among contemporaries, disputes about who was the best of them did not subside. Aristophanes (The Frogs) decided to express his opinion on this matter in the play. A brief summary, which can be found below, will make it clear who, in the opinion of the comedian, is the best.
The meaning of the name
Where did such a strange name come from in a play on playwrights? The fact is that the chorus of this comedy, as conceived by Aristophanes, was to be dressed in frog costumes and all of their songs had croaking lines.
But these frogs are not so simple, they live in the river of the dead Styx, through which Charon crosses the souls of the dead in his boat.
Aristophanes, “Frogs": a summary. Tie
In Athens, the patron god of the theater was Dionysus. And so he says that there are no good tragedies left in the city. Concerned about the fate of his theater, he decides to go down to Hades and take Euripides from there.
Dionysus does not know how to get to Hades, so he seeks advice from Heracles, who was already there. He says that Charon will help to cross, only all the luggage will have to be left on the shore. But Dionysus cannot give up his things. Then the god himself gets into the boat and crosses to the other side of the stage, and his servant with things runs around the edge. On the other side they meet.
Gate to Hades
At its core, Aristophanes' comedy “Frogs” has a pronounced mythological basis (a brief summary is proof of this).
Here Dionysus faces the palace of Hades, in front of which Eak sits. In myths, he appears as a judge of the underworld, and in the play he is portrayed as a gatekeeper slave. Dionysus knocks on goal. Eak asks who has come. God, throwing a lion's skin, replies that Heracles. The gatekeeper threatens to bring down monsters on him because the hero took Kerber from him.
Dionysus in horror dresses up in a women's dress, and gives the hide to the slave. But here the maidservants of Queen Aida appear and call Hercules in the chambers of the lady. Dionysus and his servant in a hurry again change clothes.
Comes back with guards Eak. He looks at the guests and cannot understand which of them is a slave and who is the master. He decides to quit both of them - the one who screams first is the slave. But nothing comes of this venture. Then Ehak decides to take unexpected guests to Hades, the god of the underworld will figure out who is who.
Poetry competition
The summary (“Frogs”) here takes an unusual form for the modern reader, since the play is interrupted by the choir, which speaks in song form on topical issues. After this, the development of the plot continues.
It turns out that in the underworld there are competitions between poets. Until recently, Aeschylus was the best, but now his title is disputed by Euripides. And then Hades appoints the judge of these competitions Dionysus. The contest begins.
Euripides is the first to speak, he accuses Aeschylus of the fact that his plays are boring, the words are incomprehensible. At Euripides himself, everything is simple and clear, as in life. Aeschylus objectes to the opponent that the poet’s mission is to teach people truth and goodness, and the heroes of Euripides are depraved and vicious, what can they teach the viewer well? As for the words, a high language is appropriate for high thought.
Reading poetry
Good knowledge of mythology is required to understand the work that Aristophanes wrote (Frogs). Summary, presentation or analysis therefore can not do without a small excursion into ancient Greek myths.
The next part of the competition begins - poets read their poems. The first is Aeschylus. Euripides makes him remarks that, for example, Orestes at his father’s grave prays for that “to hear and heed,” but this is one and the same thing. He is reassured by Dionysus - Orestes turns to the dead, and to him, at least as long as he repeats, he will not respond.
Then Euripides reads his creations, and here Aeschylus finds fault - why all the dramas begin with genealogies. A serious dispute ensues, which almost comes to a fight. But in time Dionysus intervenes. God decides that poets recite verses in one stanza, and he will measure on the scales which one is “heavier”. Euripides begins, but his creation is cumbersome and awkward. Aeschylus continues and utters a harmonious and melodious line. Suddenly Dionysus screams that "Aeschylus is harder."
Denouement
At the next stage of the competition, poets should share their views on the political situation in Athens. However, even here the poets are equal. Dionysus is confused: who to take from Hades with him. Suddenly he makes a decision and declares Aeschylus the winner. Euripides is indignant: God promised to pick him up. In response, Dionysus responds with his own poems - "Not me, my tongue promised." The poet continues to object, and God answers with quotes from his own works. As a result, Euripides is silent.
Dionysus and Aeschylus are going back. Hades asks them to tell various famous sages and politicians that he has already waited for them. The choir sings of Athens and Aeschylus, the unsurpassed master of the word.
Thus ends the comedy that Aristophanes wrote (Frogs). Summary for the reader's diary can be significantly reduced, not to describe in detail disputes with the gatekeeper and skirmishing of poets.
Analysis
Comedy was first staged in 405 BC. e. and was well received by the Athenian public. In fact, this play is a reflection of the literary views of the author himself. The comedy is clearly directed against Euripides, which appears pampered, sentimental and anti-patriotic. In contrast to him, Aeschylus is a tall poet, whose poems are saturated with heroic deer, are deep, serious and patriotic.
The work has a lot of biased judgments, in which Aristophanes himself is seen. "Frogs" (a summary is presented in this article) were written by the author after a series of political and military failures of Athens. Aristophanes sees one of the reasons for the defeat in a new system - democracy, which Euripides personifies. While Aeschylus is a reflection of the former system. Despite the political orientation, the parody in the work does not decrease at all. The comedy remains in the traditional booth and buffoonery style.
Reviews
Above, we presented a summary of the comedy Aristophanes “Frogs”, the reviews are presented here. So, despite the time that has passed since the writing of the play, it is still read and laugh. The humor of Aristophanes is for the most part understandable now. Of course, readers note that a lack of knowledge of the history and literature of Ancient Greece can cause some misunderstanding, but in general this does not hinder enjoying the work at all.