Characters
This god of wine and ecstasy returns to Thebes to punish those who deny his divinity.
Who is Dionysus?
The city where the play takes place.
What is Thebes?
The play explores the conflict between human reason and this chaotic force represented by Dionysus.
What is madness or divine ecstasy?
The playwright who wrote the Bacchae.
Who is Euripides?
Dionysus is commonly associated with this alcoholic drink.
What is wine?
This king of Thebes refuses to worship Dionysus and bans his rituals.
Who is Pentheus?
The followers of Dionysus who dance in ecstatic rituals.
Who are the Bacchae?
Pentheus' downfall is caused largely by this trait of excessive pride.
What is hubris?
The group of Bacchae women who sing and comment on the action of the play.
What is the Chorus?
The staff carried by Bacchae followers, often wrapped in ivy.
What is Thyrsus?
Pentheus' mother who unknowingly kills him during a Bacchic frenzy.
Who is Agave?
Pentheus disguises himself as this in order to spy on the Bacchae.
What is a women?
A major theme shows the danger of denying the power of these beings.
What are the gods?
Greek tragedies were originally performed at festivals honoring this god.
Who is Dionysus?
Pentheus being dressed as a woman symbolizes his loss of this.
What is power?
This blind prophet warns Pentheus not to oppose Dionysus.
Who is Tiresias?
The mountain where the Bacchae perform their rituals.
What is Mount Cithaeron?
The Bacchae represents the uncontrollable power of this aspect of human nature.
What is primal instinct or irrationality?
Actors in Greek tragedy traditionally wore these to portray different characters.
What are masks?
Agave carrying Pentheus' head shows the destructive power of this Dionysian state.
What is madness?
This elderly founder of Thebes joins Dionysian worship with Tiresias.
Who is Cadmus?
This tragic event happens to Pentheus after he spies on the Bacchae.
What is being torn apart by the Bacchae?
The play warns the balance is needed between reason and this opposing force.
What is emotion or passion?
This dramatic concept refers to the audience's emotional release after tragedy.
What is catharsis?
The ultimate lesson of the play: humans must respect and acknowledge this force.