Aristophanes was one of the most successful Attic comedy playwrights of his time- (circa 445BC~383BC). ... In the prologos of The Frogs, we see a hint of criticism of other comedy writers made by Aristophanes- Xanthias says to Dionysus "It's the regular thing, I tell you. ... There' one in every comedy." ... This quote tells us that Aristophanes is criticising the typical comedy writers, and the fact that he really wants to be different from the others. ... Considering that most comedies at Aristophanes' time were just full of the "usual knockabout stuff," the use of complex ch...

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Aristophanes, Four Comedies Four Comedies, written by Aristophanes, is a book composed of the following four plays: "Lysistrata", "The Congresswomen", "The Acharnians" and "The Frogs". ... Aristophanes uses comedy in these plays in order to portray his views and make his point. ...

• Word Count: 2881
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• Grade Level: High School

COMEDY...Comedy is usually dramatic, literary work, mainlyaiming to amuse the audience. ... Old fashioned comedy reached itshighest point in Aristophanes. Aristophanes was series ofscenes using farce (exaggerated comedy), dealing withfantasy, humorous imitation (parody), and satire, then ending with a final lyric celebration of the unity. ... When the Middle Ages came around comedy survivedthrough comedy and also through the Italian CommediaDell"arte. ... Comedy also comes intelevision related form. ...

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In Aristophanes' (450 BC - 388 BC) Lysistrata , the theme of desire is given a new meaning, namely: the desire for sex. ... At the beginning of the play it seems as though Aristophanes portrays Lysistrata's motive as a commendable one, i.e. to stop the war and the killing. ... Even though the goal seems to be noble the viewer/reader cannot disregard the sexual connotations that are mentioned, thus creating the comedic scenes that satisfy the concept of a comedy described by Aristotle. ... The women aren't the only characters that are portrayed as desire driven by Aristophanes...

• Word Count: 997
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• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Aristophanes was a comedy poet in the fourth century BC, during the time of the Peloponnesian War. His usual style was to be sarcastic, and implying the eccentric. He shows little mercy when insulting Socrates and his modern ideas, which were most likely intended to nullify the present society and l...

• Word Count: 342
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• Grade Level: High School

Also, Aristophanes, gives to these two groups is somewhat contradictory of the time. ... While women again, even today are being portrayed as sexual objects within the media, it's so interesting to read how Aristophanes believed the same thing even then. As women were looked at as housewives, home-makes and sexual objects, Aristophanes creates a main character that breaks down those negative connotations towards women. It makes me wish we could have a modern day Aristophanes combat the same problems in society today and influence a new generation to be more like Lysistrata. ... Aristophan...

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After reading Lysistrata, it is very obvious that it is a "Brillo pad comedy" aimed at reforming Greek society. ... Aristophanes was using the women and using the dialog of Lysistrata to get his point across. ... It kept Aristophanes free from heat. ... It is obvious that Aristophanes is pleading with the Grecians to open there eyes and lay down there arms. ... Aristophanes plainly states his ideals through comedy. ...

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• Grade Level: High School

The last of the sources is the comic poet and social critic Aristophanes, who wrote rather disparately of Socrates in his comedies. ... Depicted in his Comedies as a Sophist, a natural philosopher who would teach arguments for money and denounced the existence of the gods of common opinion. ... As can be seen, Socrates is portrayed as a rather shrewd Character within the world of Aristophanes Comedies, teaching those he deems of less intelligence the ways of arguing. ... It can be seen that Aristophanes view of Socrates was one of pretension, or even contempt, and Socrates often becomes the b...

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The character in the comedy supposedly walks on air and, according to Socrates, talks nonsense. ... This comedy is about the ridiculous thinking of the sophists, especially Socrates, and takes up the attitude that Socrates in his defence speech says that most people have about him. ... He is introduced as "walking upon air and attacking the mystery of the sun" (page 121, Penguin edition, The Clouds, Aristophanes). It may well be possible that Socrates investigated meteorological phenomena, but that character's statement that for such an examination his thought must be "suspended" shows...

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To the citizens of Athens in 405 BC, The Frogs would have been a hilarious comedy with a sting in the tail in the form of a objective message on the current political state of Athens. ... Aristophanes" plays are and abstract form of political campaigning. ... Aristophanes believes that Athens is lost unless they listen and act on his sound advice. ... Perhaps Aristophanes was showing that the old way of thinking was ridiculed in Athens even though it is wiser and grander. ... In The Frogs, Aristophanes is clearly giving the people of Athens in 405 BC a message of warning. ...

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• Grade Level: High School

Written during the war, a time of chaos and crisis in Greece, Aristophanes" play Lysistrata was an attempt to lighten the atmosphere of the country, and provide humor for the people. In my opinion, the comedy was produced for entertainment value, exaggerating and making fun of the actions of both genders. ... In the opening scene, when Lysistrata is explaining her plan to the other women, Aristophanes shows the way females use their femininity and sexuality to gain power. ... Aristophanes focused much more on the interaction between the men and women, rather than political or government vie...

• Word Count: 354
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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Sophocles has it and Aristophanes has it, though both had it on different plans of writing Greeks literary masterpieces. ... Greek writers of tragedy and comedy paved the road of greatness that is used down through the ages from such writers as Shakespeare. It takes talent to write such works of art; in this paper you are going to see two great authors contrive two great aspects of Greek writings; characteristics of a Greek tragedy featured in Sophocles Oedipus the King, and a Greek Comedy shown in Aristophanes" Lysistrata....

• Word Count: 273
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• Grade Level: High School

Lysistrata Aristophanes was a comedy poet in the fourth century B.C. Aristophanes' usual style was to be too satirical, and suggesting the outlandish. The most absurd and humorous of Aristophanes' comedies are those in which the main characters, the heroes of the story, are women. ... One of the most famous of Aristophanes' comedies depicting powerfully effectual women is the Lysistrata, named after the female lead character of the play. ... Aristophanes (Through the eyes of the women) mocks man's inclination for fighting. ...

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• Grade Level: High School

It is important to understand that the ancient Greek comedy "Lysistrata" serves as an example of how, throughout Greek drama, civil unrest is often defined and framed in terms of gender and sexual conflict. ... Aristophanes also clearly intended to make a political statement regarding the foolishness of continued Athenian military aggression. ... But again, Aristophanes is following the great dramatic tradition of asking the audience "what if?" ... Aristophanes obviously understood that and, in modern parlance, milked it for all it was worth in the common tradition of dra...

• Word Count: 1075
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• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Lysistrata Lysistrata is a play written in 411 BC by Aristophanes, who was a satirist. ... Lysistrata is probably the oldest comedy which has retained a place in modern theatre. ... Aristophanes wrote the play not only to entertain, but also to make a stand against warfare. ... Aristophanes' use of women as the peacemakers shows the natural role of women as nurturers. ... Aristophanes is urging his fellow Greeks to restore peace and therefore life as they once knew it....

• Word Count: 645
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• Grade Level: High School

"The Lysistrata" by Aristophanes demonstrates the free will and power that the women have, but in the past have hardly used. ... Aristophanes makes fun of women, but he also makes fun of his own sex. ... The war was devastating to Athens and it is clear that Aristophanes wanted the states to make peace. ... Aristophanes was commenting on the stupidity of the war where the women must tell the men what to do. It is impossible to know exactly what Aristophanes planned in this comedy, but what I can see is that he strongly criticizes the war. ...

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"The Lysistrata" by Aristophanes demonstrates the free will and power that the women have, but in the past have hardly used. ... Aristophanes makes fun of women, but he also makes fun of his own sex. ... The war was devastating to Athens and it is clear that Aristophanes wanted the states to make peace. ... Aristophanes was commenting on the stupidity of the war where the women must tell the men what to do. It is impossible to know exactly what Aristophanes planned in this comedy, but what I can see is that he strongly criticizes the war. ...

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The damaged morale of the Athenian people after their defeat by Sparta in the Peloponnesian War caused a non-structured government that was depicted in The Assemblywomen by Aristophanes. ... Aristophanes developed a comedic idea to save Athens. ... Aristophanes used this absurd proposal just to show how the government was affected by the peoples' defeat. ... The Assemblywomen by Aristophanes showed the severity of this effect on the Ancient Athenians. ...

• Word Count: 672
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• Grade Level: High School

One accusation he did not set himself up for were those made in the famous play write Aristophanes" play, The Clouds. In the comedy, Aristophanes makes Socrates appear as a crazy old man who floats on a cloud talking gibberish. The comedy itself accuses Socrates of being a Sophist. ... For anyone who did not know or did not come into contact with Socrates, the comedy distorted their perception of him. ... Aristophanes comedy, The Cloud, and a couple of angry wealthy men led to Socrates" demise. ...

• Word Count: 1043
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• Grade Level: High School

More than any other of Aristophanes" plays, Frogs was centred upon Athens and it is the worry for the city's political, military and social problems that made it so successful. ... The importance of peace was a recurring theme in Aristophanic comedy; it is mentioned in Acharnians (425BC) and Peace (421BC), although they advised harmony throughout Greece in addition to peace in Athens. ... However, Frogs was still a comedy with aim of entertaining the spectators, an idea best shown through the mockery of Dionysus who was usually seen as virile and fearless. ... Nevertheless, the presentati...

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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Before getting into the play itself it is important to understand the differences between New Comedy and Old comedy in Ancient Greece. The leading playwright of old Comedy was Aristophanes and in Old comedy the principal role was played by the chorus, it had flexible casts and the main point of the plays were to poke fun at contemporary society, politics, and culture. With the rise of new comedy the importance of the chorus diminished and often involved stock characters. ... " (Mastin) The second character in the play that represents aspects of new comedy is Sostratos. ... This is another...

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• Grade Level: High School

He was wrongly portrayed in the comedy The Clouds. ... Socrates name was well known during that time period, and was friends with Aristophanes. ... This play is a comedy, which means that it is supposed to be humorous and be entertaining to people. ... The comedy the Clouds portrays Natural Philosophers as not believing in the gods, and this is probably where Mellitus gets the notion of that. ... The only thing which he could be found guilty of could be that the people of the world are ignorant to the meaning of a comedy and therefore thought he was all of these things. ...

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Later, comedy, which developed in the mid-5th century BC, was also presented. The oldest extant comedies are by Aristophanes. ... By the 4th century BC comedy had supplanted tragedy as the dominant form. ... THEMES OF PLAYS As Greek culture spread in the wake of the conquests of Alexander the Great, the topical, literary comedies and philosophical tragedies became inappropriate, and domestic comedy - called Middle and New Comedy - proliferated. ... These plays are similar in plot and style to the situation comedies on television today. ...

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