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frogs 406bc - Coggle Diagram
frogs 406bc
political
decline of athens
At the time of the play athens is greatly suffering in the peloponeasan war against sparta which they would loose a year after this was performed for the first time at the leneia festival
Dealing with the shortage of resources due to the war Athens stated minting cheaper silver coins, aristophanes cleverly references this in the chorus leaders speech " gold and silver coins are for the best men of athenes, bronze coins are for those not educated, foreigners"
political satire
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thoryicon known for being corrupt during wartime "takes a bite out of the winning playwrights prize"
cleisthenes called out for his sexual taste “he was bending over and beating his head, crying out and screaming for Bonkmeagen”
Callias is mocked as “Hippoknickers son” (Hippolytus) as he has been in other plays,for having more money than sense, further effectively making jokes an Athenian audience would understand.
Theramenes another contemporary politician, known for his “U turn[s]” and agile politics, for example the establishment and overthrow of the Four Hundred ( the oligarchic government ). He was also nicknamed “buskin” meaning boots that could be worn on either foot, displaying that these jokes would have effectively connected with an Athenian audience.
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Furthermore in the first half, the chorus of initiates evokes the muse and tells it how “clever” the audience is which helps to create a united front against the demagogue Cleophon, who Aristophanes insults for having a “two tongued mouth” and a “thracian swallow” (dual nationality). This is damning of Cleophon because Aristophanes hints his mother is Thracian which would make his appointment as a prominent politician after the fall of the council of 5000 a sham, as you needed to have two Athenian parents to have citizenship.
Cleon and Hyperbolus are called out in hatred “ get him for me, ill batter him “. Undoubtedly Cleon, a war mongering demagogue, got this roasting in frogs because he put Aristophanes on trial for treason.
entertainment
Moreover Xanthius also references “hegalochus” , an actor who was made infamous for mixing up the words “storm” and “weasel” on stage.
other forms of comedy
innuendo
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the little bottle Xianthius "well if you were the real Dionysus where is your little bottle" "its right here between my legs" -> this is funny as it is referring to his genitils which is a typically taboo subject
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scatological
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"you even fart like heracles... after lentil soup" -> this is funny as it reduces a mighty god to a low status fart joke, the reversal of roles is absurd and therefore entertains the audience
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