Socrates: Socrates is the friend and occasional mentor of Phaedrus. For more about Socrates, see "About Plato" under "Additional Content" or follow this link to Socrates.

Phaedrus: Phaedrus is a friend of Socrates and a devoted follower of Lysias. He loves speeches and aspires to be a great orator.

Lysias: Lysias is a famous rhetorician named in absentia in the dialogue. He is the son of Cephalus, who appears in Plato's Republic.

• Biography of Plato
• About Phaedrus
• Character List
• Major Themes
• Glossary of Terms
• Short Summary
• Full Summary and Analysis
• Summary and Analysis of Introduction: 227a-230e
• Summary and Analysis of Lysias’s Speech: 230e-234c
• Summary and Analysis of Socrates' Challenge of Lysias: 234d-237b
• Summary and Analysis of Socrates' First Speech: 237b-241d
• Summary and Analysis of Socrates' Recantation: 241d-243e
• Summary and Analysis of Socrates’ Second Speech: 244a-257b
• Summary and Analysis of Transition to Discussion of Rhetoric: 257b-259d
• Summary and Analysis of Discussion of Rhetoric, Part I: 259e-266c
• Summary and Analysis of Discussion of Rhetoric, Part II: 266c-274b
• Summary and Analysis of Discussion of Writing: 274b-277a
• Summary and Analysis of Conclusion: 277a-279c
• Related Links on Phaedrus
• Suggested Essay Questions
• The Technology of Writing
• Author of ClassicNote and Sources
• Purchase Phaedrus and Other Works
• Test Yourself! Quiz 1
• Test Yourself! Quiz 2
• Test Yourself! Quiz 3
• Test Yourself! Quiz 4
• Message Board on Phaedrus