The Classical Origins of Western Culture
The Core Studies 1 Study Guide
by Roger Dunkle
Brooklyn College Core Curriculum Series
Copyright © 1986 by Brooklyn College, The City University of New York All rights reserved. Published 1986.

 

LYSISTRATA

Production

The setting of the Lysistrata requires at least one door in the skene representing the Propylaea, the monumental gateway to the Athenian Acropolis. All the action of the play takes place in front of this background.

An unusual aspect of the production of the Lysistrata is the use of two choruses, one of old men and the other of old women. The conflict between these two choruses forms an important part of the action of the play. In addition, there is a chorus of Spartans and a chorus of Athenians in the exodos.

EXERCISE FOR READING, COMPREHENSION AND INTERPRETATION

Prologue - Lysistrata, Calonice (sometimes given as Cleonike), Myrrhine, Lampito (1-253)1

1The numbers in parentheses refer to lines in the Lysistrata.

What is the dramatic purpose of the Prologue? What problem is Lysistrata concerned with (33)?2 What is Lysistrata's solution to this problem (124)? What will be the ultimate result if Lysistrata's solution is successful (148-154)? What does Lysistrata intend to have the women do (175-179)?

2The Lysistrata is set in the same year in which it was performed (411 B.C.). The play reflects the disgust with war prevalent at Athens after she had suffered the loss of the whole fleet and just about the whole army which had been sent to Sicily (413 B.C.). In addition, many of the members of the Athenian Empire had begun to revolt.

Parados - Choruses of Old Men and Old Women (254-386)

What does the Chorus of Old Men intend to do (266-270)? What action does the Chorus of Old Women take against the men (331-386)?

Scene - Athenian Magistrate or Commissioner,3 Chorus (Men), Lysistrata, three women (387-466)

3The Magistrate (or as the title is sometimes translated, Commissioner) is one of a board of ten officials which temporarily replaced the Council of Five Hundred as chief administrative body of the Athenian government in the crisis after the disaster in Sicily.

What is the Magistrate's view of women (387-420)? What does the Magistrate order the policemen to do (424-430)?

Debate - Lysistrata, Magistrate, both Choruses (467-613)

What reasons does Lysistrata give for the women having seized the Acropolis (488-492)? How do husbands generally react to women's criticism of the war (506-520)? What is the meaning of the wool-working analogy used by Lysistrata (567-586)? What concerns does Lysistrata have with regard to married and unmarried women because of the war (588-597)? What do Lysistrata and the other women do to the Magistrate (599-613)? What is the meaning of this action?

Stasimon - both Choruses (614-705)

In place of the expected parabasis, a choral song in which the two choruses insult each other is substituted. What fear does the Chorus of Old Men express with regard to the women's seizure of the Acropolis (626-635)? What complaint does the Chorus of Old Women make against the men (648-658)?

Scene - Lysistrata, Chorus (Women), three women (706-780)

What has happened to hinder Lysistrata's plan (717-728)? What is the meaning of the oracle that Lysistrata reads to the women (770-776)?

Stasimon - both Choruses (781-828)

What is the significance of the examples of Melanion and Timon used by the Choruses of Old Men and Old Women (805-821)?

Scene - Lysistrata, woman and man (members of chorus), Myrrhine, Cinesias, Chorus, Spartan Herald (829-1013)

In what state is Cinesias4 as he arrives on-stage (845 ff.)? What is the reason for this state? What does he want of Myrrhine (906 ff.)? What condition must Cinesias fulfill before she will comply with his desire (900-901)? In what condition is the Spartan Herald5 as he arrives on-stage(980 ff.)?What is the situation back in Sparta (998-1001)? What message for the Spartans does the Athenian Magistrate give to the Herald (1007-1012)?

4The name of Cinesias and that of his municipality (Paionidai) are both derived from common street words for sexual intercourse.
5Like Lampito, the Spartan Herald speaks in the broad Doric dialect of the Spartans, which is usually translated into English as an American southern dialect.

9. Stasimon - both Choruses (1014-1042)

What view of women does the Chorus of Old Men express at first (1014-1018)? What is the reaction of the Chorus of Old Women to this view (1019-1021)? Explain how and why the Chorus of Old Men change their view of women (1022-1042)?

10. Exodos - Combined Choruses, a Spartan, two Athenians6 Lysistrata, Chorus of Athenians, Chorus of Spartans (1043 to end)

6These two Athenians are sometimes identified as Cinesias and the Commissioner.

What invitations do the combined Choruses extend to the members of the audience (1043-1071)? In what condition are the Spartan Ambassadors as they arrive on-stage (1076 ff.)? According to the Spartan, what is the purpose of the delegation (1080-1081)? What advice does Lysistrata give to the Athenians and Spartans (1112-1135)? According to Lysistrata, what had the Athenians done for the Spartans (1137-1146)? the Spartans for the Athenians (1149-1156)? What is the object of the sexual desire of the Athenian and the Spartan (1173-1174)? According to Lysistrata, what will be the rewards of peace (1182-1187)?

What does the first Athenian say about the relative merits of sobriety and drunkenness in political negotiations between the Athenians and Spartans(1228-1240)? How does the play end?

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