Study Questions: AGAMEMNON
(Aeschylus)
Illustration: Red Figure Crater: Aigisthos Kills Agamemnon,
urged on by Clytemnestra, with Cassandra saying, “This is what I told
you would happen.”
(translation of Peter Meineck)
Due Wednesday, April 14, 2021.
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Simple Plan of a Greek Theater With Names of its Elements
Theater of Dionysos and Dramatic Festivals
Theater at Epidaurus Empty:
Theater at Epidaurus Full:
Genealogical Chart: from Zeus to Orestes
1. Where is the play set? What other location is mentioned in this play that is vitally important to understanding this drama, and how is it important?
PROLOGUE (1-39)
2. How does the Watchman describe Clytemnestra? How does this foreshadow her later actions?
PARODOS (ENTRANCE) OF CHORUS. 40-257
3. Why does the Chorus describe Agamemnon and Menelaus as ‘vultures’ (49)? Why do they invoke Zeus as the ‘god of guests’ (60)?
4. What is the omen which Calchas interprets as angering Artemis? Why is Artemis disturbed (104 ff)?
5. What is the gist of the chorus’ invocation of Zeus in 160-182? What kind of god do they conceive him to be?
6. How did Agamemnon’s daughter Iphigeneia attempt to sway her father and the other Greeks away from sacrificing her (228FF.)? What was the result of her attempts (248)?
EPISODE 1 (258-350)
7. How did Clytemnestra get the news of Troy’s downfall overnight?
8. What does Clytemnestra say about the Greeks at Troy in regard to the gods and temples of Troy? Why is her dread ironic (335-347)?
CHORUS 1 (FIRST STASIMON (355-502)
9. Why does the Chorus invoke ‘Zeus god of guests’ (363) in this song, and what does this have to do with Justice, and with Paris?
10. What attitude do the Chorus members have towards Helen? What was her husband’s emotional reaction to losing her (414-435)
11. Why is the Chorus skeptical about the joy over the fire signal’s message? What does this tell us about their attitude towards women? (475-487) How does Clytemnestra react to this attitude (586-596)?
EPISODE 2 (503-680)
12. What does the Herald say about the altars and gods of Troy (527 ff), and how does this hearken back to Clytemnestra’s words at 338ff? What is the effect on the audience?
13. What does Clytemnestra say about her own loyalty to Agamemnon (605ff)? How much is true, and how much is false?
14. Why did the Herald have no news of Menelaus? When and where had he last seen him? Where did Menelaus stop on his long voyage home? [ – not in text, but the story is in Odyssey, book 4, and Herodotus, book 2.]
STASIMON 2 (CHORUS) (681-810)
15. With what concept do the Chorus link Helen? Why do they do so?
16. Why do the Chorus mention ‘dishonor to the hospitable hearth’, and Zeus ‘god of guests’? (699ff)
17. Why is Helen compared with a domesticated lion cub? (717)
18. The Chorus admit what their true feelings were when Agamemnon went off to the Trojan War. What were their feelings then, and how do they compare to their feelings now? (799ff)
EPISODE 3 (811-974)
19. How does Agamemnon’s initial invocation recall that of the Herald at the beginning of the second episode?
20. What does Agamemnon say about Odysseus, and his friendship? What myth does Agamemnon recall when he says that Odysseus ‘sailed against his will’? (842)
21. How does Clytemnestra explain to Agamemnon the absence of their son Orestes? Why is it convenient to have him out of town?
22. Why is Agamemnon reluctant to step on the carpet? Why do you think that Clytemnestra urges him to do so?
23. What can be ambiguous about Clytemnestra’s evocation of the goddess ‘Justice’ at the end of her speech of welcome to Agamemnon? What could be ambiguous about her saying ‘cover his way with crimson’? the mention of the ‘crimson path’? (911)
24. How does Agamemnon respond to Clytemnestra’s speech? What three criticisms of her does he make?
25. What is ambiguous about Clytemnestra’s prayer to Zeus (973)?
STASIMON 3 (CHORUS) (975-1034)
26. This song is full of dread and foreboding. What do the Chorus sing about blood? What do they say about fate? What myth involving Zeus do they mention?
EPISODE 4 (1035-1330)
27. What does Cassandra tell the Chorus at 1090 ff that they do not understand at first? Who are the small children wailing? See also line 1218. What does the Chorus finally understand about it? (1242)
28. Why does Cassandra repeatedly mention a bath? (1108, 1127)
29. Why does Cassandra mention Cocytus and Acheron? (1160)
30. What does Cassandra tell the Chorus about her relationship with Apollo? (1202ff)
31. What does the Chorus say about the Pythian oracles? Why does the Chorus say this in this context? (1255)
STASIMON 5 (Chorus) (1331-1371)
32. What issue does the Chorus debate with itself in this song, and what is the result of their debate?
EPISODE 5 (1372-1673)
33. How does Clytemnestra justify her murder of Agamemnon (1414ff, and 1445), and what reference does she make to the inactivity of the Chorus when Agamemnon committed his outrage at Aulis? (1414)
34. How does the Chorus speak of Helen, and how does Clytemnestra attempt to correct them? (1455ff)
35. What is the ‘triple-gorged spirit’ which Clytemnestra and the Chorus refer to? (1476, 1481) How is Zeus involved?
36. Clytemnestra says that she was only an agent, but the real killer was something else. What does she claim that it was? And what is the Chorus’ response to her claim? (1497-1520)
37. What kind of burial will the murdered Agamemnon have? Who will kiss him after he dies, according to Clytemnestra? (1551)
38. What argument does Aegisthus use to prove that the gods were in favor of Agamemnon’s being murdered, and that he was justly killed? (1578)
39. How does Aegisthus respond to the Chorus when they call him an effeminate draft-dodger? What kind of personality does he have? (1625ff)
40. What is the Chorus’ hope about Orestes? How will this hope be fulfilled?
AESCHYLUS’ AGAMEMNON: THE PAST, THE PRESENT, AND THE FUTURE.
THE PAST
Parodos/Chorus: Paris stealing Helen; Omen of Eagles and Pregnant Hare; Sacrifice of Iphigeneia; Destruction of Troy.
Herald: Awful conditions of army at Troy; Destruction of Troy; Storm that spoiled nostoi.
Cassandra: Apollo’s Curse/Gift; Crimes of Tantalus, Atreus.
Clytemnestra: Setup of Signal Fires; Fake unhappiness at Agamemnon’s long absence.
Clytemnestra/Chorus: Destruction of Troy; ALASTOR (vengeful spirit) of the house because of the crimes of its ancestors.
THE PRESENT
Watchman on the Roof; Return of Herald, Clytemnestra’s sacrifices; Return of Agamemnon & Cassandra. Murder. Gloating/Threats.
THE FUTURE
Hopes of Clytemnestra and Aegisthus for peace.
Hopes of Chorus for Orestes’ revenge.
Cassandra’s prophecy of Orestes’ return to avenge his murdered father.
CASSANDRA IS THE ONLY ONE WHO IS FULLY AWARE OF THE PAST, THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE.
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