What does MacDowell say about the opening scene?
That “much of the comic effect must be visual”
What is the main joke found with Euripides and Aeschylus?
That they are charactertures of their own characters found in their plays.
Why is the weighing of the two playwrites works funny?
Because its absurd. Why would the weight if their work mean either of them is better?
Why is Dionysus being the judge for Euripides and Ayschalus competition funny?
Cause its been demonstrated that he’s not good at his job.
What does Aeschylus represent in frogs?
The old heroic ideals: grand, noble, morally serious.
What does Euripides represent in frogs?
Modern trends: clever, critical, emotionally raw, sometimes seen as decadent.
What is the context of 405 BCE when Frogs was performed?
Athens was in crisis, losing the peloponnesian wat, politically divided and culturally anxious.
What is Aristophanes demonstrating by having a contest between Euripides and Aeschylus?
He’s dramatising a real cultural debate.
Should Athens stick to old values (represented by Aeschylus), or embrace newer, more questioning attitudes (represented by Euripides)?
