Aristophanes, "Frogs": a brief comedy, analysis and reviews

Aristophanes - the most famous ancient Greek comedian, he was nicknamed quite deservedly "the father of comedy." In this article we will talk about one of the most famous of his plays - "Frogs". Let's consider its brief content, a brief analysis and present the feedback of those who read it.

Prehistory

Has some relationship to the ancient Greek comedy story that Aristophanes wrote. "Frogs" (a brief summary is presented below) so it is worth reading after a short explanation.

In Athens, lived three well-known to the whole of Greece, the writers of the tragedies: the elder of them was Aeschylus, the middle one - Sophocles and the youngest - Euripides. At the same time, Aeschylus was considered to be majestic and powerful, Sophocles - harmonious and clear, and Euripides - paradoxical and tense. By the time of writing the comedy, all the playwrights were already dead, and between contemporaries, disputes about who was the best of them did not cease. His opinion on this issue decided to state in the play Aristophanes ("Frogs"). The brief content, 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 this strange name come from the play dedicated to playwrights? The fact is that the chorus of this comedy, according to the idea of Aristophanes, was to be dressed in frog costumes and all their songs had croaking lines.

But these frogs are not so simple, they live in the river of the dead Styx, by which the souls of the dead are transported on their boat Charon.

Aristophanes, "Frogs": a brief summary. String

In Athens, the god-patron of the theater was Dionysus. And now he says that there are no good tragedies in the city. In concern about the fate of his theater, he decides to descend to Hades and withdraw Euripides from there.

Dionysus does not know how to get to Hades, so he applies for advice to Hercules, who was already there. He says that the transfer will help Charon, that's all the luggage will have to leave on the beach. But Dionysus can not throw his things. Then God himself sits in a boat and crosses to the other side of the stage, and his servant with things runs along the edge. On the other shore they meet.

Gateway to Hades

Basically, there is a clearly expressed mythological basis of the comedy Aristophanes "Frogs" (a brief summary is that proof).

Here Dionysus is in front of the palace of Hades, before which Eak sits. In myths, he appears as a judge of the underworld, and in the play he is portrayed as a slave-gatekeeper. Dionysus knocks at the gate. Eak asks who came. God, throwing a lion's skin, responds that Hercules. The gatekeeper threatens to throw a monster on him for the fact that the hero took Kerber from him.

Dionysus, in horror, changes into a woman's dress, and gives the skin to a slave. But here the maidens of Queen Aide appear and call Heracles at the Mistress's quarters. Dionysus and his servant in a hurry again dress up.

Returned from the custody of Eak. He looks at the guests and can not understand which of them is a slave, and who is the master. He decides to flog the rods of both - the one who screams first, and there is a slave. But nothing comes out of this venture. Then Eak decides to take unexpected guests to Hades, the god of the underworld will figure out who is who.

Contest of poets

Summary ("Frogs") here takes an unusual look for the modern reader, as the action of the play is interrupted by the choir, which in the song form expresses itself on topical themes. After this, the development of the plot continues.

It turns out that in the underground world there are competitions between poets. Until recently, the best was Aeschylus, but now his title is disputed by Euripides. And Hades appoints Dionysus as the judge of these competitions. The match begins.

The first is Euripides, he accuses Aeschylus of the fact that his plays are boring, incomprehensible words. At the very same Euripides everything is simple and clear, as in life. Aeschylus objected to the opponent that the poet's mission was to teach people the truth and good, and the heroes of Euripides are depraved and vicious, what can they teach the spectator good? As for words, high thought is also due to a high language.

Reading poems

Good knowledge of mythology is needed to understand the work that Aristophanes wrote ("Frogs"). The summary, presentation or analysis therefore will not do without a short digression into the ancient Greek myths.

The next part of the competition begins - poets read their poems. The first is Aeschylus. Euripides makes comments to him that, for example, Orestes at the grave of his father prays "to hear and heed," but it's the same thing. He is calmed by Dionysus - Orestes turns to the dead, and although he does repeat it, he will not respond.

Then he reads his creations Euripides, and then Aeschylus quibbles - why all the dramas begin with the pedigrees. A serious argument is in the works, which almost does not reach a fight. But Dionysus intervenes in time. God decides that let the poets speak one verse of verse, and he will measure on the scales which one is "heavier". Euripides begins, but his creation is cumbersome and awkward. Continues Aeschylus and pronounces euphonious and melodious line. Suddenly, Dionysus shouts that "Aeschylus is heavier".

Decoupling

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. Unexpectedly, he makes a decision and declares the winner Aeschylus. Euripides is indignant: God promised to take him. In response, Dionysus answers his own verses - "It's not me, my language promised." The poet continues to object, and God answers with quotations from his own works. As a result, Euripides stops.

Dionysus and Aeschylus gather in the way back. Hades asks them to convey to various well-known sages and politicians that he has already been waiting for them. The choir sings Athens and Aeschylus, the unsurpassed master of the word.

So the comedy ends, which Aristophanes wrote ("Frogs"). The summary for the readers' diary can be greatly reduced, do not describe in detail the disputes with the gatekeeper and the skirmish of the poets.

Analysis

The 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 unpatriotic. In contrast to him, Aeschylus, a high poet, whose poems are imbued with a heroic maral, is profound, serious and patriotic.

There are a lot of prejudiced judgments in the work, in which Aristophanes himself sees it. "Frogs" (a summary is presented in this article) were written by the author after a series of political and military failures of Athens. One of the reasons for the defeat of Aristophanes sees in the new system - democracy, which is embodied by Euripides. While Aeschylus is a reflection of the old order. Despite the political orientation, the parody in the work does not diminish. The comedy remains in the traditional buffoonery and buffoonery style.

Reviews

Above we outlined the brief content of the comedy Aristophanes "Frogs", the same responses we will present here. So, despite the time that has passed since the writing of the play, it is still read and laughed. The humor of Aristophanes is for the most part understandable now. Of course, readers note that the lack of knowledge of the history and literature of ancient Greece can cause some misunderstanding, but in general it does not interfere with enjoying the work.