1. Agamemnon 2

2. Agamemnon (cont.) –F. The chorus still doubt (475-487) –G. The chorus introduce the messenger (488-502) V. Messenger speech: note that some weeks have passed (503-680) –A. Herald speech part 1 (503-537) »1. N.B. prayer to Apollo (509-513) »2. Agamemnon is returning (522-526) »3. The Trojan temples are destroyed; cf. 338-342 (527-528) »4. Excessive praise of Agamemnon; cf. 468-470 (530- 532)

3. Agamemnon (cont.) –B. Stichomythia c. chorus; n.b. chorus’ fear at 550 (538- 550) –C. Herald speech Part 2 (551-581) »1. Suffering at Troy (551-573) »2. Boasting of success (574-578) –D. Chorus responds; they are convinced (582-585) –E. Clytemnestra speaks (586-612) »1. N.B. her masculinity »2. She lies; irony at 607 (605-612) –F. Herald and chorus trade couplets about Menelaos (613- 635)

4. Agamemnon (cont.) –G. Herald speech part 3: the storm (636-680) VI. 2nd stasimon (681-810) –A. Helen (681-749) »1. Literal discussion of Helen (681-715) »2. Lion metaphor (716-736) »3. Back to Helen (737-749) –B. Hybris (750-781) »1. What many say (750-756) »2. What the chorus says (757-762) »3. Hybris, Tharsos, Ate (763-771)

5. Agamemnon (cont.) –D. The chorus welcomes Agamemnon (782-810) »1. They try to moderate their praise (785-787) »2. They were angry when Agamemnon left (789-804) »3. Now they are glad (805-807) »4. They hint that all is not well; clearer hint in the Greek at Ægisthos (808-810) VII. Agamemnon speaks (811-854) –A. Troy has fallen (811-828) »1. He credits the gods (811) »2. He portrays Troy as proud (820) –B. Human jealousy (829-843)

6. Agamemnon (cont.) –C. Re-settling affairs at home; credits gods again at 852- 853 (844-854) VIII. Clytemnestra responds (855-913) –A. She has been afraid for Agamemnon (855-876) –B. Orestes kept safe in Phocis (877-886) –C. She is cried out (887-894) –D. Now she rejoices (895-904) –E. The red tapestry (905-913) IX. They debate (914-974) –A. Agamemnon refuses to trample the cloth (914-930) –B. Stichomythia (931-943) –C. Agamemnon is convinced (944-957)

7. Agamemnon (cont.) –D. Clytemnestra is ironically grateful (958-974) X. 3rd stasimon (975-1033) –A. Chorus gripped by vague fear (975-1000) –B. Loss creates safety; cf. Polycrates (1001-1016) –C. Zeus prevents mortal from being too happy (1017- 1033) XI. Clytemnestra orders Cassandra into the house; she doesn’t respond (1034-1071) XI. Cassandra scene (1072-1330) –A. Cassandra and the chorus sing (1072-1177) »1. Of Thyestes (1090-1099)

8. Agamemnon (cont.) »2. Of the impending murder; chorus horrified (1100- 1135) »3. Of Tereus, Procne, and Itys (1136-1155) »4. Of Troy (1156-1177) –B. Cassandra and the chorus speak (1078-1330) »1. Of Thyestes (1178-1201) »2. Stichomythia on Cassandra (1201-1213) »3. More of Thyestes (1214-1222) »4. Of Ægisthus and Clytemnestra (1223-1245) »5. Stichomythia: she spells it out for the chorus (1246- 1256) »6. Of Apollo, Cassandra, and Orestes (1257-1298) »7. She must die (1299-1333)

9. Agamemnon (cont.) XII. Agamemnon killed; chorus ineffective (1331- 1371) XIII. Clytemnestra argues with the chorus (1372- 1576) –A. She describes the murder (1371-1398) –B. She defends herself (1399-1576) »1. Masculine (1401, 1422-1425) »2. Iphigenia (1417-1418, 1521-1529, 1555-1559) »3. Defends Ægisthus (1434-1437) »4. Chorus blames Zeus (1485-1488) »5. Clytemnestra claims to be the instrument of Thyestes’ revenge (1497-1504)

10. Agamemnon (cont.) »6. Chorus admits eye-for-an-eye justice was exercised against Agamemnon (1560-1566) »7. Clytemnestra thinks she has swept the pollution from the house (1573-1576) XIV. Ægisthus arrives (1577-1673) –A. He claims the death of Agamemnon as just revenge for his father (1577-1611) –B. Now a tyrant, he threatens the chorus (1628-1632) –C. Chorus correct him: Clytemnestra murdered Agamemnon; they pray for Orestes’ revenge (1633-1635, 1643-1645)

11. Agamemnon (cont.) –D. Ægisthus punish the chorus (1649-1653) –E. Clytemnestra prevents it: Fate decreed what happened (1654-1661)

12. Orpheus and Eurydice –Orpheus The human originator of music and poetry. Please ignore everything you read of “Orphic” cults. –Eurydice His new wife. Dies. –The myth: Orpheus’ trip to Hades to rescue her.