Aristophanes' Apology by Robert Browning
Sailing toward Rhodes after Athens' defeat, Balaustion recounts to her husband Euthukles a night's argument with Aristophanes following news of Euripides' death. She challenges his defence of comic abuse and reads Euripides' Herakles, in which the hero kills his wife and children in divinely inflicted madness and accepts Theseus' help to live on. She recalls how Euthukles' recitation from Elektra persuaded the conquerors to spare Athens, though its walls were demolished.
By Robert Browning · Genre: Dramatic Poetry, Narrative Poetry, Classical Adaptation · 69,505 words
First lines
Including a Transcript from Euripides, Being
The Last Adventure of Balaustion
Genres
- Dramatic Poetry — Balaustion's verse recollection stages an extended exchange with Aristophanes, followed by the spoken roles and choral songs of Herakles.
- Narrative Poetry — Balaustion narrates the poet's nocturnal visit and Athens' defeat within the ongoing account of her voyage toward Rhodes.
- Classical Adaptation — The poem incorporates a verse rendering of Euripides' Herakles, from the threatened family's supplication to the hero's departure with Theseus.
Tags
ancient Athens · comedy and tragedy · theatrical satire · poetry and politics · divine cruelty · friendship
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Aristophanes' Apology is listed on Textopian as a poem by Robert Browning, dated Date unknown.
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- Work type: Poem
- Author: Robert Browning
- Date: Date unknown
- Language: English
- Genres: Dramatic Poetry, Narrative Poetry, Classical Adaptation
- Length: 69,505 words
- Structure: 1 section, 509 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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- Work identity for Aristophanes' Apology by Robert Browning
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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