Describe the journey of Dionysus to Hades
The Frogs is a notable literary work by Aristophanes. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of The Frogs.
Answer
Describe the journey of Dionysus to Hades.
“The Frogs,” first performed in Lenaea in 405 BC, is Aristophanes’s (446-386 B.C.) last surviving old comedy. The play centres around the journey of Dionysus, which is the most significant literary technique of the playwright to defend him since he comments on the social and political issues of contemporary Athens in a sharp tone.
The Decision to Travel to Hades: The play begins with Dionysus lamenting the poor state of Athenian drama. Disappointed with contemporary playwrights, he travels to Hades to bring back Euripides, whom he considers the best of the tragedians. To prepare for the journey, Dionysus visits Heracles, his half-brother, who has been to the Underworld before. Dionysus, dressed comically in Heracles’s lion skin and carrying a club, asks Heracles for directions. Heracles finds Dionysus’s disguise ridiculous and laughs at him but eventually provides the necessary instructions. Dionysus says:
Forget my courage.
Show me the highway, the shortest one there is,
that takes me directly down to Hades.
These lines show Dionysus’s determination to reach Hades despite his cowardice and reluctance as he seeks Heracles’s guidance on how to get there.
Crossing the Lake with the Frog Chorus: Following Heracles’s directions, Dionysus and his slave Xanthias reach a large lake that separates the living world from the Underworld. At the lake, they meet Charon, the ferryman who transports souls across the lake. Charon allows only Dionysus on his boat, telling Xanthias to walk around and meet them on the other side. Dionysus is forced to row the boat but struggles with the task. As he rows, he is interrupted by a chorus of frogs who begin singing their famous song:
“Brekekekex koax koax Brekekekex koax koax …
The frogs’ song is repetitive and mocking, and Dionysus tries to compete with their croaking, but the frogs continue singing until the ferry reaches the shore.
Encounters in the Dark and the Initiate Chorus: After crossingUnlock this study guide now