Aristophanes

AS 90511 Examine and analyse passage(s) from work(s) of classical literature in translation.

• 
  Socio-historical background,
  
• 
  Staging,
  
• 
  Techniques of humour,
  
• 
  Structure,
  
• 
  Characterisation, and
  
• 
  Theme
  

Text: Aristophanes, The Frogs and Other Plays, translated by David Barrett, Penguin, 2007.

1. Attic Comedy

2. Humour

3. Aristophanes

4. Politics and History

5. Greek Festivals

6. Greek Theatre

7. The Wasps and Frogs – Introduction

8. The Wasps 9. The Frogs ATTIC COMEDY READINGS: Greek Drama Chapter 1 Things to know in Aristophanes History of Comedy Greek Drama Old Comedy FERTILITY FESTIVAL ORIGINS

These tasks require you to read the Introduction to the plays.

1. 
   How typical of Attic Old Comedy are the plays of Aristophanes? (pg.7)
   

2. 
   What are the “traditional elements” of Old Comedy? (p22)
   

3. 
   Detail the formal structure of Old Comedy with a brief description of each part. (p28-32)
   
4. 
   What were some of the important political/historical events during Aristophanes’ lifetime? (p12-13)
   

5. 
   Who was the Eponymous Archon? What were his responsibilities? (p14)
   

6. 
   Who was the choregos? What were his responsibilities? (p14-15)
   

7. 
   Explain the “three-actor convention”. What limitations did it place on the poet? How does it impact on the Wasps and Frogs? (p16-17)
   

8. 
   Make summary notes about the actors and the chorus from p16-18.
   

9. 
   Read p17-18 about the staging of some comic scenes from the plays. This is a recurring question in NCEA. Make summary notes.