Structure & Characters of the Wasps

1. Structure & Characters of the Wasps • Read the handout together. • Create a list of all of the characters mentioned. • Write all of the structure terms to memorise them. • Create a flow-chart of the play using only 4 points in each part of the flow.

5. Parts of the Wasps • Prologue • Parados • Episodes after the Parados • Agon • Episodes after the Agon (trial of the dog) • Parabasis • Episodes after the Parabasis (re-educating scene) • Second Parabasis • Encounter scene • Exodos

6. Main Parts of Comedies • The parados: first entry of the chorus • The agon: debate or contest at centre of play, chorus takes part in play • The parabasis: chorus leader steps out of character to address audience (political, social, personal concerns) could be second parabasis (Wasps) • The exodos: exit of chorus & actors in scenes of dancing, singing, revelry

7. Aristophanes – What’s Funny? Types of Humour: • Parody • Satire • Situational Comedy / Farce • Slapstick • Scatological / Toilet • Sexual • Verbal • Bathos

8. 1. Parody Where a serious story / myth / character is ‘taken off’, or made fun of. Aristophanes particularly loved to parody the tragic poets that he shared the stage with. Eg. The Odysseus Parody in the Prologue of Wasps Also: • Procleon as ‘tragic hero’ from the Parodos through to the Agon: - tragic singing - attempt to stab himself

9. 2. Satire Where humour is used to provide a political or social message. Aristophanes used satire to point out to Athenians where he thought their values where wrong, or where politicians like Cleon were leading them astray. Eg. Xanthias and Sosias’ Dreams at the beginning of the Prologue

10. 2. Satire Where humour is used to make a political or social point. Aristophanes used satire to point out to Athenians where he thought their values where wrong, or where politicians like Cleon were leading them astray. Other Examples: • Mocking drunkeness, gambling and homosexuality when the slaves try to get the crowd to guess what the problem is with Procleon. • The chorus appear as Wasps – jurors are nasty old men. • The Mock Battle – satirises Athens’ paranoia through the chorus’ reaction to Anticleon • The same episode satirises the older and younger generations (see notes on Old vs. Young) • Procleon’s speech in the Agon – points out corruption of jurymen

11. 3. Situational Comedy / Farce Aristophanes uses ridiculous situations to poke fun and society. In the first part of the Wasps, this is through the ridiculous scenario of an old man addicted to jury duty. Right: Still from a production of The Knights 4. Slapstick This is Aristophanes most basic form of humour. It is straight physical comedy. Eg. Procleon’s attempts to escape and the Mock Battle between the chorus and Anticleon and the slaves.

12. 5. Scatological and Sexual Humour The theatre provided an escape from the conventions of society, including politeness and appropriateness. Aristophanes played up to this by including all sorts of sexual innuendo (suggestive play on words) and coarse language and actions.

13. 6. Verbal Humour This is the most common form of humour in Aristophanes’ plays. Puns / plays on words are scattered throughout the text. Eg. “Ship of state … Get launched” - Prologue • Tasks: • Find five examples of Sexual or Scatological humour from the text we have read so far. • Then find five examples of Verbal Humour.

14. 7. Bathos Bathos is when a scene or speech has a sudden change of mood from serious to silly. In Aristophanes, bathos was frequently also satirical, or scatological. Examples – finish these quotes (all by Procleon): 1. “Blow on me with thy breathe divine… 2. “And now lend your aid divine… 3. “Speed, speed my soul! … and serve with vinegar and brine.” … and I’ll promise not to piddle in the reeds around your shrine.” … Where is my soul?”

15. Next lesson • We will begin reading the Wasps: • Don’t forget to bring it 