Lysistrata Quiz: Test Your Knowledge of Aristophanes' Comedy

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Questions and Answers

Match the characters with their actions in Aristophanes' play Lysistrata:

Lysistrata = Proposes a sex strike to end the war Older women = Seize the treasury in the Acropolis Chorus of old men = Tries to smoke the women out with burning coals Magistrate = Arrives with armed guards to storm the Acropolis

Match the locations with their significance in Aristophanes' play Lysistrata:

Marketplace below the Acropolis = Where Lysistrata gathers women from all over Greece Acropolis, the temple of Athena = Where the treasury is stored and where the women barricade themselves Chorus of old men = Tries to smoke the women out with burning coals Magistrate = Arrives with armed guards to storm the Acropolis

Match the actions with their outcomes in Aristophanes' play Lysistrata:

Women go on a sex strike = In order to end the war between the Greek cities Old women throw water on old men = To stop them from smoking the women out Women chase away the armed guards = Preventing the storming of the Acropolis Lysistrata engages the magistrate in a debate = Arguing that women can use their household management skills to run the country

Match the themes with their representation in Aristophanes' play Lysistrata:

War and peace = Women propose a sex strike to end the war Gender roles = Lysistrata argues that women can run the country using household management skills Power struggles = Older women seize the treasury to prevent the politicians from waging war Resistance and empowerment = Women barricade themselves and chase away armed guards Signup and view all the answers

Match the literary devices with their use in Aristophanes' play Lysistrata:

Irony = Chorus of old men tries to smoke the women out with burning coals Satire = Lysistrata engages the magistrate in a debate about women's ability to run the country Symbolism = Older women seizing the treasury in the Acropolis Allegory = Women going on a sex strike to end the war between the Greek cities Signup and view all the answers

Explain Lysistrata's plan to end the war between the Greek cities and the role of the women in implementing this plan.

Lysistrata proposes a sex strike for the women to abstain from sexual activities with their husbands to pressure them into making peace. Additionally, a group of older women seize the treasury to prevent the politicians from waging war without money. The women barricade themselves in the Acropolis as hostages, demonstrating their determination to end the war. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the confrontation between the chorus of old men and the chorus of old women in Aristophanes' play Lysistrata and its significance.

The chorus of old men attempts to smoke the women out by bringing burning coals, but they are stopped by the chorus of old women who throw water on them. This confrontation symbolizes the power struggle between the genders and the women's resistance to male dominance. Signup and view all the answers

Explain the role of the magistrate and his armed guards in the plot of Aristophanes' play Lysistrata and how their actions are thwarted by the women.

The magistrate arrives with armed guards to storm the Acropolis and break the women's resistance. However, the women chase them away, demonstrating their defiance and determination to challenge the traditional authority of men. Signup and view all the answers

Discuss Lysistrata's argument about women's capability to run the country and the significance of this debate in the play.

Lysistrata engages the magistrate in a debate, arguing that women can use their household management skills to effectively run the country. This debate challenges the traditional gender roles and highlights the women's desire for equal participation in governance. Signup and view all the answers

Explain the significance of the women's actions in gathering from all over Greece and barricading themselves in the Acropolis as hostages in Aristophanes' play Lysistrata.

The women's unity in gathering from all over Greece and their decision to barricade themselves in the Acropolis as hostages symbolize their solidarity and determination to end the war, challenging the traditional passive roles assigned to women. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Characters and Actions

Lysistrata: leader of the women's rebellion, plans to end the war between Greek cities
Women: take an oath of abstinence, withhold sex from their husbands to pressure them to end the war

Locations and Significance

Acropolis: where the women gather from all over Greece, barricade themselves as hostages to pressure the men to end the war

Actions and Outcomes

Women's oath of abstinence: leads to husbands' desperation and willingness to negotiate for peace
Women's occupation of the Acropolis: results in men's delegation coming to negotiate with Lysistrata

Themes and Representation

Women's empowerment: Lysistrata argues that women are capable of running the country, challenging traditional gender roles
Peace and war: Lysistrata's plan aims to end the war between Greek cities, highlighting the devastating effects of war

Literary Devices and Use

Satire: Aristophanes uses satire to critique the patriarchal society and the ongoing war between Greek cities

Plot and Significance

Lysistrata's plan: uses women's sexuality as a tool to pressure men to end the war, highlighting the power dynamics between men and women
Confrontation between the chorus of old men and the chorus of old women: represents the struggle between traditional patriarchal values and the women's rebellion
Role of the magistrate and his armed guards: represents the patriarchal authority's attempts to suppress the women's rebellion, ultimately thwarted by the women's determination and solidarity

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Description

Test your knowledge of Aristophanes' play "Lysistrata" with this quiz. Challenge yourself with questions about the plot, characters, and themes in this classic Greek comedy.