AGAMEMNON STASIMON 2

Strophe/Antistrophe A: (Group 1) Lines 367-401 Why To Avoid Wrong Doings “The Bolt of ”

Strophe/ Antistrophe B: (Group 2) Lines 402-436 ’s Effect on her People, the people of , and

Strophe/ Antistrophe C: (Group 3) Lines 438-474 Citizen’s Thoughts on

Epode: (Group 4) Lines 475-502 Back to The Now: Elder’s Concern Bolt of Zeus STROPHE A

1) If you think you can get away with wrongful acts without the gods watching, you are wrong, and the gods actually hate you. 2) They will curse you and your descendants if you are caught doing wrong deeds or are greedy. 3) Your money can not help you! ANTISTROPHE A

1) You live happily in your wrongdoing until you begin to feel the wrath of Zeus. 2) You offer fruitless prayers, but they are not heard. 3) This was ’s Fate! Helen’s Effect on the People of Troy and Menelaus STROPHE B

1) Helen left the protection of her people to follow her love to Troy. 2) She knew that Menelaus (’s Brother) would follow her and bring war and destruction to both her people and the people of Troy.

EXERCISE “GET ON YOUR FEET”: WOULD YOU STILL CHOOSE LOVE IF YOU KNEW THE RESULT WOULD BE WAR? ANTISTROPHE B

1) Menelaus has intense visions of love for Helen and her supposed love for him. 2) They are “empty” and “vain” and drive him crazy. 3) Menelaus grieves for Helen, but his people have a deeper grief. VOLUNTEER:

READ 433-436 STROPHE C

1) Ares loves and profits from war with no regard for the bodies that are left behind.

2)The expectation of war is to stand with our troops, and publicly glorify the fallen without questioning their sacrifice.

3)Secretly they “snarl” at the reason behind the sacrifice… so much loss for one woman! Again, is love worth war? ANTISTROPHE C

1) The town knows that DEITIES of VENGEANCE (The Furies) will come for them for the loss of so many lives. 2) The town is not happy about this. 3) The town knows that Zeus is fickle and may not protect them forever! 4) Foreboding of a potential fall of Agamemnon and Menelaus. They are lucky now, but not lucky enough to spare them.

EPODE Epolde Chorus: So we see what you are saying with the flames, but how do you know that they really mean what you think they mean? Slow your roll, Lady! I think you may be celebrating too fast. The gods could be tricking you and since you are being a woman and gullible would believe them.

Clytemnestra: So, first of all, stop mansplaining! Second of all, I’m pretty sure I am right but the Herald is coming and we can confirm or deny my “woman brain.” Questions to Consider from Epeisodion 1 and Stasimon 2

(254-350) What are some ways in which 's two long speeches redefines the role of the woman’s voice?

(355-475) How does the chorus here present its "anatomy" of wrongdoing that leads to punishment? How does it represent the attitude of the citizenry toward its leaders who took them to war?

What are some ways the use of time compression can serve the tension in a play? Epeisodion 2: Reading Groups

Group A: Lines 503-517 Group F: Lines 583-599

Group B: Lines 518-537 Group G: Lines 600-613

Group C: Lines 538-550 Group H: Lines 614-635

Group D: Lines 551-562 Group I: Lines 636-649

Group E: Lines 563-582 Group J: Lines 662-680