Aristophanes' Lysistrata: The Birds, The Clouds, The Frogs (Cliffs Notes) [Paperback]

W. John Campbell (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0822007762 | ISBN-13: 978-0822007760 | Publication Date: December 29, 1983

These are the 'Cliff Notes' on Aristophanes' Comedies. Lysistrata, The Birds, The Clouds, and The Frogs.

Aristophanes's plays were comedies, satires, and politically charged. Lysistrata is perhaps his most famous, dealing with the power of sex and war in a society where women have control.

Product Details

• Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: Cliffs Notes (December 29, 1983)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0822007762
• ISBN-13: 978-0822007760
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #357,008 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Understanding the comic masterpieces of Aristophanes, June 10, 2001

By 

Lawrance M. Bernabo (The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Aristophanes' Lysistrata: The Birds, The Clouds, The Frogs (Cliffs Notes) (Paperback)

This Cliffs Notes volume looks at four comedies by Aristophanes, but begins by looking at the three great Greek writers of tragedy, Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides, in order to put the work of the comic playwright in appropriate context. "Lysistrata," the celebrated anti-war play, is covered by providing a List of Characters, followed by Summaries and Commentaries on each scene of the play. However, the other three plays by Aristophanes are covered without breaking the plays into discrete units (although the authors do discuss the specific structure of Greek plays in their analysis of "The Birds"). For two of the plays, "The Birds" and "The Frogs," there are specific points of analysis signposted in the commentary section, but for the most part this little yellow book with the black stripes deals with these plays comprehensively. Those who like to find specific sections dealing with particular literary elements will find this volume to be a little less user-friendly. As always, the analysis is first rate, especially if you have read the plays are therefore able to absorb the additional insights.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Pretty useless., January 25, 2004

By 

MAB (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Aristophanes' Lysistrata: The Birds, The Clouds, The Frogs (Cliffs Notes) (Paperback)

"Aristophanes' Lysistrata: The Birds, The Clouds, The Frogs (Cliffs Notes)" - I only used these "Cliffs Notes" for the play "Lysistrata." I didn't find it extremely helpful. Symbolism, themes, and motifs weren't clearly stated. I do not recommend.