Aeschylus agamemnon summary

In the immediate aftermath of the fall of Troy, the play opens at King Agamemnon 's palace in Argos with the lonely Watchman 's soliloquy. From the roof of the palace, the Watchman begs the gods for respite from his interminable watch, aeschylus agamemnon summary. The stars, his sole, plentiful and steadfast, companions seem to tetonas masturvandose like so many "dynasties" revolving in endless cycles, waxing and waning, moving out of winter aeschylus agamemnon summary summer and back again.

Agamemnon is the first play in the Oresteia , the only trilogy of Greek tragedies that has survived intact from classical times. Indeed, we might go so far as to say that, with these plays, Aeschylus essentially invented classic Greek theatre. Before we offer an analysis of Agamemnon , the first volume in the trilogy, it might be worth briefly recapping the plot of the play. The action of Agamemnon takes place at the end of the ten-year Trojan War. The Greek hero Agamemnon has been heavily involved in the fighting against Troy, and back home his wife Clytemnestra eagerly awaits his return. However, although she is making a show of welcoming her husband, in truth she plans to murder him when he returns to the marital home, in retribution for what Agamemnon did on his way out to war. In order to persuade the gods to provide him and his ship with fair winds on the way to Troy, Agamemnon had sacrificed Iphigenia, his own daughter by Clytemnestra.

Aeschylus agamemnon summary

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. Lines Character Analysis. Important Quotes. Essay Topics. Discussion Questions. It was followed by the tragedies Libation Bearers and Eumenides , which also survived, and by a satyr play titled Proteus , which was lost. The play inspired numerous adaptations, performances, and translations, and it remains one of the most widely read and recognized ancient tragedies. Get access to this full Study Guide and much more! In a brief Prologue, a watchman explains that Clytemnestra stationed him on the roof of the palace to watch every night for the signal fires that will indicate the fall of Troy.

Plot Summary. Kommos: The chorus of Argive elders.

A Watchman , stationed on top of the palace, waits for a signal fire indicating that the ten-year Trojan War between the Greeks and the Trojans has come to an end. He sees the fire light and rushes out to tell queen Clytemnestra the good news. The Chorus , a group of elderly men too old to have fought in the war, come out and explain that the Trojan War began out of a feud between Paris , the Trojan prince, and Menelaus , the Greek king. Clytemnestra enters and the Chorus asks why fires of sacrifice are being lit around the palace. Clytemnestra tells the Chorus that Troy has fallen, but they remain skeptical, so she explains the system of signal fires that allowed the news to travel so quickly. A Herald enters and confirms that Troy has indeed fallen, and recounts some of the hardships of the war. The Chorus details how Helen incited the fall of Troy.

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Aeschylus agamemnon summary

Welcome to the LitCharts study guide on Aeschylus's Agamemnon. Created by the original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts are the world's best literature guides. Ancient Greek Staging. At the time Agamemnon was originally staged, it would have been performed in a huge amphitheater. The actors would have worn character masks so that the huge audience could distinguish whom each performer represented. Civil War Adaptation.

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Thank You! Your group members can use the joining link below to redeem their group membership. Tyrannical Aegisthus then threatens the old men and the state with torture and bondage. You'll also receive an email with the link. She imaginatively describes the progress of the signal fires blazing from Troy until they reach Argos. In an exchange with the chorus, Clytemnestra justifies her actions. Log in. This is not a valid promo code. Clytaemestra announces victory at Troy. Agamemnon, being a powerful lord, may well have been considered above the law. The chorus greets their king. Episode V: Something went wrong If you don't see it, please check your spam folder.

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Your password reset email should arrive shortly. She is remorseless; the Chorus is appalled at her brutality. Measure content performance. Clytaemestra makes a case for her own innocence, but is highly doubtful that the gods have sanction the joy she took in killing her husband. He draws a joyous analogy to a sunrise. Next, the disapproving Chorus outlines Iphigeneia's sacrifice at the hands of her battle-impassioned father, though without reaching its climax. He asks her to receive the war prize that is Cassandra with kindness. Speaking to her husband in front of an assembly of Argive citizens, Clytaemestra relates how trying her wait has been in lieu of myriad tales of wounds and death to Agamemnon, and she implores the disgruntled audience to patience, to maintain the council and order. You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. SparkNotes Plus. She is mute. Following this news, Clytaemestra reminds the Chorus of its haughty attitude toward her "womanish" credulity, then openly proclaims her long, chaste fidelity to her husband. The chorus takes Helen to task. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. Sign in Create Account.