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Frogs and Other Plays

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( 1,858 ratings, 115 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Frogs and Other Plays by Aristophanes offers a collection of comedies that explore themes of politics, society, and culture in ancient Athens. The plays blend witty humour with sharp satire, often focusing on the absurdities of human behaviour and societal norms. Each play serves as a vibrant example of classical Greek theatre, full of lively characters and clever dialogues.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you appreciate classic comedy that delivers sharp wit and insightful satire on ancient Greek society and politics. This collection offers a vibrant glimpse into Athens' cultural life through its funny, bold, and sometimes surprising plays. Ideal for fans of theatre history and those who enjoy exploring timeless humour in literature.

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Offers insight into one of the turbulent periods in Ancient Greek history. This book is written during the Peloponnesian War, Dionysus descends to Underworld to bring back a poet who can help Athens in its darkest hour, and stages a debate to help him decide between the traditional wisdom of Aeschylus and the modernity of Euripides.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Revised edition

The master of ancient Greek comic drama, Aristophanes combined slapstick, humour and cheerful vulgarity with acute political observations.

In The Frogs, written during the Peloponnesian War, Dionysus descends to the Underworld to bring back a poet who can help Athens in its darkest hour, and stages a great debate to help him decide between the traditional wisdom of Aeschylus and the brilliant modernity of Euripides.

The clash of generations and values is also the object of Aristophanes' satire in The Wasps, in which an old-fashioned father and his loose-living son come to blows and end up in court.

And in The Poet and the Women, Euripides, accused of misogyny, persuades a relative to infiltrate an all-women festival to find out whether revenge is being plotted against him.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Frogs and Other Plays by Aristophanes is celebrated for its clever wit, comedic elements, and political satire, providing both entertainment and insight into ancient Greek culture. The collection highlights Aristophanes's mastery in blending humour with thoughtful commentary on society and politics. Critics have noted its enduring impact, praising its ability to engage contemporary audiences with timeless themes and sharp dialogue.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780140449693

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 01 March 2007

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Classics

Contributors:

  • Introduction by Shomit Dutta
  • Revised by Shomit Dutta
  • Translated by David Barrett

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 18.0mm

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 197.0mm

Weight: 215g

Pages: 288

About the Author

Aristophanes was born, probably in Athens, c. 449 BC and died between 386 and 380 BC. Little is known about his life, but there is a portrait of him in Plato's Symposium. He was twice threatened with prosecution in the 420s for his outspoken attacks on the prominent politician Cleon, but in 405 he was publicly honored and crowned for promoting Athenian civic unity in The Frogs. Aristophanes had his first comedy produced when he was about twenty-one, and wrote forty plays in all. The eleven surviving plays of Aristophanes are published in the Penguin Classics series as The Birds and Other Plays, Lysistrata and Other Plays, and The Wasps/The Poet and the Women/The Frogs. Translated by David Barrett Revised Translation with an Introduction and Notes by Shomit Dutta

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