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.

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.

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.

Daring is recorded as the undesirable offspring of aged Pride.

Aeschylus ' Agamemnon was originally performed at the City Dionysia of B. Aeschylus won 1st prize for his tetralogy the trilogy and a satyr play. Agamemnon, leader of the Greek forces in the Trojan War, has returned after 10 years. He arrives with Cassandra in tow. There is controversy about the performance dates for the Greek tragedies and the components of Greek tragedy.

Aeschylus ' Agamemnon was originally performed at the City Dionysia of B. Aeschylus won 1st prize for his tetralogy the trilogy and a satyr play. Agamemnon, leader of the Greek forces in the Trojan War, has returned after 10 years. He arrives with Cassandra in tow. There is controversy about the performance dates for the Greek tragedies and the components of Greek tragedy. The divisions of ancient plays were marked by interludes of choral odes.

Aeschylus agamemnon summary

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. Now, Clytemnestra is out for revenge. When the god Apollo took a shine to her, Cassandra was given the gift of prophecy, in return for her virginity.

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Create profiles to personalise content. Sign up for your FREE 7-day trial. A Herald enters and confirms that Troy has indeed fallen, and recounts some of the hardships of the war. Create Your Account. Agamemnon enters, riding in his chariot with Cassandra, a Trojan Princess whom he has taken as his slave and concubine. Log in Sign up Sparknotes. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of every Shakespeare play. The ruin of Troy represents the justice of the gods, with Zeus punishing Paris for abducting the wife of his host, Menelaus. But justice has come at great cost, and the lives of young men burn to dust in the flames - the people of Argos hate the war. Card Number.

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.

She declares that she has killed him to avenge Iphigenia, and then is joined by her lover Aegisthus, Agamemnon's cousin, whose brothers were cooked and served to Aegisthus' father by Agamemnon's father. They inquire about the bonfires, sacrifices, and oblations the queen has ordered to be executed throughout the city, to all the gods. During the fourth episode, Clytemnestra asks Cassandra to follow Agamemnon into the palace, but she refuses. Summarizes the war to get back Helen, Agamemnon's sister-in-law. She is proud that she killed Agamemnon. Cassandra then enters the house, having resolutely accepted it also as her tomb. Complete Purchase. They are suspicious of what Agamemnon's wife, Clytemnestra, is up to. Forgot your password? Get access to this full Study Guide and much more! Stasimon IV: Take a Study Break. List of Partners vendors.