Structure. 6 A beacon flashes, and he joyfully runs to tell the news to Queen Clytemnestra. 8 The palace doors open, revealing Clytaemnestra with blood on her hands. Agamemnon, the king of Argos, is returning victorious from the Trojan War. We know nothing about this person. According to Greek mythology, Agamemnon was the king of Mycenae, a kingdom of legendary Greece. Clytaemnestra prepares for Agamemnon's homecoming. 6 With Zeus's help, Hector breaks through to Achaean ships. Agamemnon returns to Argos with Cassandra. Course Hero is not sponsored or endorsed by any college or university. Agamemnon sees this as an opportunity for power. When he sees the signal fire indicating victory, the Watchman rejoices and enters the palace to spread the news. When she tries to justify her actions, the Chorus argues with her. After Atreus was murdered by his nephew Aegisthus (son of Thyestes), Agamemnon and Menelaus took refuge with Tyndareus, king of Sparta, whose daughters, Clytemnestra and Helen, they respectively married. Themes and Colors Key LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme. 5 Zeus forbids the other gods to interfere in the war. The leader of the Chorus admits to the king that, although he had despised of his decision to pursue Helen … Agamemnon has captured a woman named Chryseis during his … The Chorus reflects on the destruction caused by Paris and Helen, whose kidnapping started the war, and laments the damage and sorrow war causes. (including. Finding out about Queen Aerope’s affair with the two sons she had from Thyestes, Atre… The Chorus tells the story of Helen's arrival in Troy, laments Troy's grief, and warns of doom for the violent. Agamemnon seemingly does his best to irritate the gods and his most valuable warrior, Achilles. In front of the palace there are statues of the gods, and altars prepared for sacrifice. Clytemnestra tells the Chorus that Troy has fallen, but they remain skeptical, so she explains the system of signal fires that allowed the news to travel so quickly. Paris stole Menelaus’ wife Helen, and as a result Menelaus and Agamemnon led a fleet to Troy to avenge the insult. Clytemnestra chides the Chorus for being skeptical but the Herald admits that not all the news is good – a storm has separated Agamemnon and Menelaus’ fleets, and Menelaus is missing. Instant downloads of all 1379 LitChart PDFs Iliad Summary. The first point that strikes one is that, after sunrise, the action is consistently that of the day of Agamemnon's home-coming. Agamemnon is a king of the Achaeans, but that does not make him worthy of the title. In the Greek city of Argos on the roof of the royal palace, a watchman long and impatiently awaits news of the outcome of the Trojan War, hoping the Argives (Greek forces) have captured Troy. A blood-soaked Clytemnestra appears, and the palace doors open to reveal the dead bodies of Agamemnon and Cassandra. 4 Mortals and gods fight and are wounded in battle. She enters into the palace to meet her fate. Finally the Chorus welcomes Agamemnon, who enters riding in a chariot with Cassandra, Paris’ sister—a prophet of the god Apollo, and Agamemnon’s new slave. She has been involved in an affair with Aegisthus, one of the king’s kinsmen. (2016, November 28). 3 This person is also known as "the swift runner" or the "matchless runner", among other things. As Aegisthus’ soldiers surround the Chorus, the Chorus prays that Agamemnon’s son Orestes will return to Argos to set things right. After his victory in Troy, Agamemnon is reluctant to do anything that may be seen as an act of defiance to the gods (as this might be), but Clytemnestra convinces him to walk on the tapestries, and he does so. 8 Achilles and the gods return to the fighting. Clytaemnestra convinces Agamemnon to walk the carpet. Agamemnon says he will take back Briseis, a captive woman who was given to Achilles as a prize for valor. Agamemnon Summary The first words of the play are spoken by the Watchman sitting on the roof of the palace of Agamemnon in Argos, Greece. The two men quarrel viciously. Aegisthus, Clytemnestra’s lover and Agamemnon’s cousin, joins Clytemnestra and explains that the revenge is twofold—long ago, Agamemnon’s father Atreus had killed and cooked Aegisthus’ brothers and fed them to their father, Thyestes. Clytemnestra explains that she has committed the murders to avenge her daughter Iphigenia’s sacrifice. Clytaemnestra murders Agamemnon and Cassandra. Clytaemnestra justifies her deeds to the Chorus. Select any of the themes in the key below to highlight it in the Theme Wheel. Course Hero, Inc. As a reminder, you may only use Course Hero content for your own personal use and may not copy, distribute, or otherwise exploit it for any other purpose. He praises the gods for saving him and says he will work with the Chorus to establish a democracy. 12 Dec. 2020. Even before he was born, his family members were fighting against one another. 9 All of a sudden, we hear Agamemnon from within the palace screaming that he is being attacked. Distraught, Cassandra enters the palace, knowing she, too, soon will die. The Chorus, a group of elderly men too old to have fought in the war, come out and explain that the Trojan War began out of a feud between Paris, the Trojan prince, and Menelaus, the Greek king. Their leader, King Agamemnon, seeks to provide better food, but accidentally slays a sacred deer. "Agamemnon Study Guide." By Clytemnestra, Agamemnon had a son, Orestes, and three daughters, Iphigeneia (Iphianassa), Electra (Laodice), and Chrysothemis. Clytemnestra enters and the Chorus asks why fires of sacrifice are being lit around the palace. Clytaemnestra convinces Agamemnon to walk the carpet. Achilles. Gender Roles. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. Agamemnon begins with a Watchman on duty on the roof of the palace at Argos, waiting for a signal announcing the fall of Troy to the Greek armies. Clytemnestra tries to force Cassandra to go into the palace, but Cassandra remains silent, and Clytemnestra gives up and leaves her in the chariot. The Theme Wheel visualizes all of Agamemnon's themes and plot points on one page. Cassandra predicts Agamemnon's death and her own. They have been hoping for victory for 10 years and ask the Argive queen, Clytaemnestra, for news. The situation is somewhat dubious. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. Agamemnon returns with Cassandra, a prophetess from Troy and captured member of the royal family, now his war prize. Clytaemnestra murders Agamemnon and Cassandra. LitCharts Teacher Editions. Recall the "afinn" lexicon has terms scored from -5 to 5. Finally the Chorus welcomes Agamemnon, who enters riding in a chariot with Cassandra, Paris’ sister—a prophet of the god Apollo, and Agamemnon’s new slave. He explains that Clytaemestra has ordered him to keep a lookout each night for the light from a series of … 7 She has killed Agamemnon and Cassandra. Once in a tidy format, both books will retain words and corresponding scores for … They insult him and say they are ready to die. Aegisthus explains his revenge and threatens the Chorus. As guards surround the gate, after denouncing the murderers, the Chorus separates. Clytaemnestra determines to give her husband, Agamemnon, a hero's welcome home. Course Hero, "Agamemnon Study Guide," November 28, 2016, accessed December 12, 2020, https://www.coursehero.com/lit/Agamemnon/. Agamemnon. Agamemnon demands that he be compensated for the loss of the girl, and Achilles, the greatest Achaean warrior, objects. For … She tells the Chorus her visions, which become more specific: a woman, Clytaemnestra, will kill Agamemnon and Cassandra herself. 5 He sees the fire light and rushes out to tell queen Clytemnestra the good news. They hope Orestes, Agamemnon's exiled son, will return. The Plot of the Agamemnon. He then ignores the questions of why it was Klytemestra that killed Agamemnon instead of Aigisthos (the man), and finally answers it by passively plotting his own plans. War and Its Aftermath. The play ends with Clytaemnestra and Aegisthus, now rulers of Argos, returning to the palace. The Chorus details how Helen incited the fall of Troy. Clytaemnestra determines to give her husband, Agamemnon, a hero's welcome home. Soon, Agamemnon, with Cassandra, a captive soothsayer, beside him, enter in a chariot. The Greek army is about to set sail to a great battle, but the winds refuse to blow. It surely is not possible to understand Agamemnon’s life without having knowledge of his tumultuous past. With the help of Achilles, the Greeks are able to fight the never before defeated Trojans. Web. The herald confirms news of Argive victory and shipwreck. His punishment from the gods, the sacrifice of his daughter Iphigenia. The play opens with a watchman standing on the roof of the palace of Agamemnon at Argos. Course Hero. When he is gone, the Chorus, made up of the old men of Argos, enters and tells the story of how the Trojan Prince Paris stole Helen, the wife of the Greek king Menelaus, … Clytemnestra, in Greek legend, a daughter of Leda and Tyndareus and wife of Agamemnon, commander of the Greek forces in the Trojan War. Agamemnon has been gone for ten years. The leader of the Greeks in the Trojan War*, he is one of the central figures in the Iliad, Homer's epic poem about the war. Exiting from the palace, Clytaemnestra tells the Chorus the Argive armies have captured Troy. Have study documents to share about Agamemnon? Clytemnestra herself is having an adulterous affair with Agamemnon's worst enemy, Aegisthus, with whom she has also been plotting the murder of Agamemnon. Agamemnon returns to Argos with Cassandra. Clytaemnestra justifies her deeds to the Chorus. Plot Summary of "Agamemnon" by Aeschylus Overview. Agamemnon Study Guide. Seemingly worried about her husband, Clytaemnestra greets Agamemnon and promises she has been faithful. Upon his return, Clytemnestra and Aegisthus murdered Agamemnon… My students love how organized the handouts are and enjoy tracking the themes as a class.”. He is now content believing justice has been served for past crimes. He doesn't think that Clytemnestra, Agamemnon's wife, is managing things very well. Revenge. Book Review 3 out of 5 stars to Agamemnon, the first of the Orestia plays written in 458 BC by Aeschylus.Peter Arnott, a noted scholar and critic, has stated that, The Agamemnon is a bitter indictment of war, of the folly of bloodshed, of the hardships of fighting, of the misery at home. A Herald enters and confirms that Troy has indeed fallen, and recounts some of the hardships of the war. "Agamemnon Study Guide." It is night. The Chorus tells the story of Helen's arrival in Troy, laments Troy's grief, and warns of doom for the violent. Agamemnon is a confusing tale of the people that are waiting for the soldiers to get home from the Trojan War. Clytemnestra meets Agamemnon outside the palace and implores him to enter into the palace walking on a carpet of purple tapestries. “…The deception was the woman’s part… still with [Agamemnon’s] money I shall endeavor to control the citizens” (Agamemnon … Struggling with distance learning? 1 Agamemnon quiz that tests what you know about important details and events in the book. 2 Agamemnon takes Briseis from Achilles. Cassandra, possessed by the god Apollo, begins to cry out, and her thoughts eventually form a prophecy in which she predicts Agamemnon’s murder in detail, as well as her own death. 4 Accessed December 12, 2020. https://www.coursehero.com/lit/Agamemnon/. So they set off with 1,000 ships holding 50,000 Greeks to Troy. Clytaemnestra and the Chorus urge Cassandra to enter the palace and take her place as a slave. In terms of marital infidelity, Clytemnestra cannot claim moral superiority over Agamemnon. He expects a glorious homecoming, and the people--especially his wife Clytemnestra--are relieved that he is home. Because Cassandra was Agamemnon's lover, Clytaemnestra killed her as well. Get the eBook on Amazon to study offline. Aegisthus tells angry Chorus members they now will have to serve him. The Chorus reveals the Argive prophet, Calchas, predicted the Argive victory and recalls how the goddess Artemis forced Agamemnon, leader of the Argive forces, to sacrifice his daughter Iphigenia so his troops could set sail. Agamemnon is a domestic tragedy, telling the story of the murder of Agamemnon, King of The Chorus breaks out into chaos, unsure of how to respond. After his victory in Troy, … Clytemnestra has been plotting her revenge against Agamemnon since his departure. The Chorus members grieve for the slain Agamemnon, but Clytaemnestra says he brought his death on himself. The Chorus suggests an impending sense of dread for what’s to come. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. T he Iliad is an epic poem by Homer that tells the story of several weeks in the last year of the decade-long Trojan War.. The Chorus then thanks the gods and muses on the gods’ tendency to punish mortals who are prideful. Upload them to earn free Course Hero access!