Slide 1

The Masks of Dionysus Euripides Bacchae 2

Slide 2

Agenda Recap and Update Dionysianism contd Analysis Part 2, Advice, How to Play? Pentheus Maenadic Make-Over (pp. 432 ff.) 22-Sep-112 Bacchae 2

Slide 3

Recap and Update Dionysianism contd Analysis Part 2, Advice,

Slide 4

Dionysus, Dionysianism Dionysian initiation Cross-dressing Mystic knowing Ritual rebirth Maenads, maenadism Rapture Thyrsus... ... and with the fennel, join reverence to riot (p. 400) lit. Sanctify the hubristic (hubristas) fennel rods all around! Sparagmos, Omophagia Oresibasia 22-Sep-114 Bacchae 2 Maenad/bacchant

Slide 5

Analysis prologue (starts p. 395) Dionysus parodos (398): Asian (Anatolian) Bacchants. Cult hymn 1st episode (402) Tiresias, Cadmus, Pentheus 1st stasimon (412) Pentheus impiety 2nd episode (414) Servant, Pentheus, Dionysus (in disguise) 2nd stasimon (417) Thebes rejection of Dionysus Choral dialogue (418): Chorus & D Earthquake Trochaic dialogue, D & Leader (420) messenger scene 3rd episode (422) Short dialogue, D&P Messenger scene: hubris in the hills 3rd stasimon (431) Hope restored, do not mock the god 4th episode (432) D&P. Fitting scene 4th stasimon (436) Excited song of vengeance 5th episode (438) Messenger (servant on death of Pentheus) 5th stasimon (442) Short song of triumph exodos (443) Agaves mad scene lyric dialogue Cadmuss return with Pentheus recognition, reversal Lament for Pentheus Deus ex machina

Slide 6

... with the fennel, join reverence to riot (p. 400) lit. Sanctify the hubristic (hubristas) fennel rods (narthkas) all around!

Slide 7

Aristotle on Bacchae? 19-Sep-11Bacchae 1 conceptBacchae ethos character (Pentheus) stock tyrants paranoia (creon-like), stubborn. hamartia errorhubris arrogance in the face of Dionysus. desis complication lusis unraveling, solution anagnorisis recognition peripeteia reversal (of fortune) catharsis purification learning? pleasure? 7

Slide 8

Journal-Prompt Discussion (Agon pp. 414 ff) 22-Sep-118 Bacchae 2 Imagine yourself inside Euripides' play. What would you say to Pentheus? Is he in the right? In the wrong? What would be your advice for handling this problem he's got?

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Advice go along with Dionysus the revenge element. deserved? yes, p is over the top no, you cant go around killing jerks disproportionate punishment both wrong in the end d a good guy? d doesnt go too far d like Krishna etc. christlike thing 22-Sep-11 Bacchae 2 9

Slide 10

How to Play? Pentheus Maenadic Make-Over (pp. 432 ff.)

Slide 11

Dionysus to Chorus Imbue him with a dizzy fantasy. / Sane, he never will consent / to put a womans clothing on.... Pentheus... will come to know full well at last / Dionysus, son of Zeus, a god indeed: / to man most gentle and most dangerous. (p. 430) Literally: Drive him out of his wits (ekstson phrenn). he shall come to know Dionysus,... whose nature is to be a god most terrible to those undergoing initiation (en telei), yet to humankind, most gentle. (lines 859-861) 22-Sep-1111 Bacchae 2