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Aristophanes: Frogs |
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2008 • 978-1-58510-308-9 • paper • 114 pages • 5 ½ x 8 ½ • $9.95 One of Aristophanes' greatest comedies available with notes and introduction by Jeffrey Henderson, an outstanding scholar and translator of Greek comedy. | About the Author | Table of Contents | From the Introduction | Review |
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Description English translation of Aristophanes popular Greek comedy in which the mythological figure of Dionysus seeks to bring the great dramatist Euripides from Hades, encountering another great Classical playwright, Aeschylus. Includes background material on the historical and cultural context of this work, suggestions for further reading, and notes.
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Dr. Jeffrey Henderson is Chair and Professor of Classical Studies at Boston University. He earned his PhD at Harvard University. He is the author of groundbreaking translations and articles on Greek comic dramatists. His other translations for Focus Classical Library include Aristophanes’ Lysistrata (1988), Aristophanes’ Clouds (1993), Aristophanes’ Three Comedies: Acharnians, Lysistrata, Clouds (1997), and Aristophanes' Birds (1999).
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Introduction Aristophanes and Old Comedy
Production The Translation Bibliography Frogs
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From
the Introduction
This translation is designed for both readers and performers and
presupposes no knowledge of classical Greece or classical Greek theater.
I have translated the Greek text into contemporary American verse,
speakability being the principal stylistic criterion, and render line by
line, so as to give a sense of the play’s original scope and pace. The
Greek text is that of my Loeb Classical Library edition, in places
incorporating improvements made by Nigel G. Wilson in his new edition of
Aristophanes’ plays (Oxford 2007), and for textual and interpretive
matters of all kinds I am much indebted to the editions with commentary
by Kenneth J. Dover (Oxford 1993) and Alan H. Sommerstein (Warminster
1996). The conventions of Aristophanic comedy
included sharp satire, rough personal attack, and the frank portrayal
and discussion of religion, politics, and sex (including nudity and
obscenity). Although these features are less in evidence in Frogs
than in most of our other plays by Aristophanes, I have tried to
reproduce them as accurately as possible within my general guideline of
faithfulness to the original and easy intelligibility. Some readers may
be surprised or even offended to find such material in a classical work,
but it is there, and not to translate it would be to falsify the plays.
After all, one of Aristophanes’ chief aims was to make humor of
important dimensions of human life and society, while at the same time
encouraging his audience to think about them in ways discouraged, or
even forbidden, outside the comic theater. The issue of freedom of
speech and thought (especially religious and moral thought) is
especially relevant to Aristophanes’ plays, and it is important to bear
in mind that one of the hallmarks of Aristophanic comedy is to encourage
us to question the status quo. For those made uncomfortable by such
provocative theater, Aristophanes’ plays provide an opportunity to ask
themselves why. ~
Jeffrey Henderson
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I find this translation of the Frogs to be entertaining and very readable. Furthermore, Henderson's comprehensive introduction makes this translation quite useful for general readers or students at any level. ~ Erin K. Moodie,
Ohio State University
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Aristophanes:
Frogs
