Guide to Aeschylus' Agamemnon prepared by Robin Mitchell-Boyask, Temple University
Parts played by first actor:
Parts played by second actor:
Parts played by third actor:
Significant actions and movements:
Significant themes and images:
Look out for images and ideas that can apply to more than one person or event.
| Prologue | Episode 1 | Episode 2 | Episode 3.1 | Episode 3.2 | Episode 4 |
| Watchman awaits signal fire, which appears, announcing Troy's fall | Clytemnestra announces Troy's fall. Describes torch relay. "Worries" about army's behavior. Chorus hostile | Herald welcomed home. Describes Troy's destruction. Clytmnestra announces her eagerness to see Agamemnon. Herald describes fleet's shipwreck. | How can we greet King? Agamemnon thanks gods. Clytemnestra reassures him, offers tapestries for grand entrance. He declines, then is persuaded | Clytemnestra invites Cassandra inside. After latter does not respond, Clyt. enters house. Cass laments her arrival and begins to try to explain what's coming to the Chorus. Thyestes' feast recalled. | Over the bodies of Ag. and Cass., Clytemnestra defends her actions. In the kommos, lamentation and reproach between her and Chorus until Aegisthus enters and explain his role and past. |
| Parodos | Stasimon 1 | Stasimon 2 | Stasimon 3 | Choral interlude | |
| Recalls departure of fleet to Troy, omen of pregnant hare. Hymn to Zeus: "learn by suffering". Sacrifice of Iphigenia. | Zeus has destroyed Troy. Justice always repays sinners. Laments for dead soldiers; anger of citizens | Helen as destroyer. Lion cub grows in house. Evil breeds evil. Justice destroys wealth. | Why am I so afraid? | When is enough? Agamemnon's death cry is heard, and Chorus shatters into 12 parts. |