Seminar 9 Worksheet .docx
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Arts Humanities
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Dec 6, 2023
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Uploaded by ChefFreedom11842
Seminar 9 Worksheet: Euripides’
Bacchae
The goal of the seminar worksheets is to allow students to reflect and expand on concepts about
Greco-Roman mythology, while practicing writing skills and the ability to analyze and think
critically about a primary source. It is also an opportunity for students to demonstrate their
engagement with the course materials and their understanding of the course content for that
week.
In crafting your responses, you should draw upon lecture materials, seminar material and the
primary source readings for the week. You may also draw upon knowledge gained from other
courses, your own personal experiences and your own knowledge.
Please be sure to cite any
direct quotations or paraphrased information from the primary sources,
that you use in
your responses. Information about citations can be found under the Assignments tab in Contents.
During Week 10, we looked Dionysus and the
Bacchae
by Euripides. Below are 4 questions
which deal with these topics. Please answer
one (1)
of the three (3) questions. If you choose to
answer all three (3) only the first will be marked.
Be sure to answer all part of the question
you choose.
_____________________________________________________________________________
1.
How would you describe the Dionysus seen in the
Bacchae
? What sort of god is he and
what are his attributes/characteristics? Why has he returned to Thebes? What is his
‘goal’?
(Please type response here)
Dionysus returns to Thebes as his goal is to claim his heavenly status and punish the city
for depriving his mother, Semele, of her proper role as Zeus' consort. The Thebans have
refused to recognize Dionysus as a god and have rejected his worship, which makes him
angry. His homecoming also serves as a means for him to assert his dominance and
demand recognition. He does this by driving the women of Thebes into chaos and
persuading them to join his cult as shown in the quote, “Because of this offence, I have
stirred the women of Thebes into a frenzy and have driven them out of their homes and
into the mountain. They are no longer in their right minds, but I’ve compelled them to
wear the clothing of my cult – they are now my Maenads” (Euripides, Bacchae, 32-36).
This also shows his ability to manipulate.
Now come, my women, my Bacchae, my worshippers– I led you out of the battlements of
Lydia, from Mt. Tmolus and its towers. I collected you as my companions when I
journeyed from those barbarian lands. You are my assistants and companions ( Euripides,
Bacchae, 55-60). Dionysus demonstrates his appealing and charming character in this
quote. He speaks to his followers nicely, emphasizing their shared journey from faraway
regions. He addresses the Bacchae as his "companions" and "assistants," demonstrating
the sense of community and commitment he creates in his followers, along with his
manipulation as mentioned above.
The Bacchae expresses Dionysus’ attribute of retribution, as shown in lines 34-40
(Euripides, Bacchae), "but I’ve compelled them to wear the clothing of my cult – they are
now my Maenads. Every woman from the race of Cadmus, all the women I could find in
Thebes – I sent them out of their home in an insane rage." This shows us that Dionysus
intends to punish the women of Thebes for their denial of his divinity and participation in
spreading tales about his birth.
Overall, Dionysus is portrayed in the Bacchae as a manipulative, charming and powerful
deity who demands recognition and revenge for perceived violations against him and his
divine lineage.
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