Form V and Frogs

Rebecca Roe writes: This comedy was written by Aristophanes in 405 B.C. for a particular purpose, to comment on corruption in Athenian politics.

It is a political comedy in which the god Dionysus goes to Hades to bring back a dead poet. It is a fantasy with many political references. Aristophanes wants the audience to understand how a poet can help the people in their time of need. It was written to make people laugh at his political message, with the comedy being quite crude at times. Aristophanes wants Athens to come to peace with Sparta and he shows them how to achieve this...

I found the play very funny and as entertaing today as I'm sure it was back then.

Paddy Owens writes: While 'Frogs' is a comedy it has underlying political points about matters such as slaves being given the vote after the Battle of Arginusae. Aristophanes also makes the point that Alcibiades, who has been banished, should be allowed to help Athens in their war against Sparta.

The story is about Dionysus and his slave Xanthias going down to Hades in search of a dead poet, Euripides. Along the way they meet many different characters and end up in lots of different situations. At one point they are both trying to prove they are gods by not feeling pain when they are whipped. Eventually they meet Euripides and Aeschylus who have a contest about who is the best poet. The winner is decided by weighing the words of their poetry!

Overall 'Frogs' is quite a funny play and is very different from the other plays we have studied. It is very funny and also carries a moral message to the Athenians.