scholarship & cool info

• the chorus in frogs poses problem- scholarly debate

  • two choruses?
  • were frogs seen or were the choirs of the blest seen ?
  • can be used for importance for visual vs verbal
• C.M.Bowra: " the Athenians showed their strength in their ability to laugh at themselves"
• 'The Frogs' awarded 2nd performance in 404bc

  • both sets of performances before or after battles - battle of Aegospotami in 405bc as 'The Frogs' warns Athens of it's fault in exiling and executing generals from Battle of Arginusae
• Edith Hall: "The audience would have been contingent with slaves"
• Tim Whitmarsh " the play would have been dramatically better if the frogs were not visible"
• Tim Whitmarsh: "mutability of identity"