The Oresteia: Agamemnon; The Libation Bearers; The Eumenides (Penguin Classics)
Home : The Eumenides : Study Guide

The Eumenides Study Guide

by Aeschylus

The Eumenides study guide contains a biography of Aeschylus, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

Knowledge of the Curse on the House of Atreus and the events of Agamemnon and The Libation Bearers is essential for understanding the events of The Eumenides. For a more detailed look, see the ClassicNotes on Agamemnon and The Libation Bearers. The Curse on the House of Atreus began with a feud between two brothers, Atreus and Thyestes. Thyestes was forced to flee. He made overtures of peace to his Atreus, returning with his children, and Atreus pretended to be appeased. He invited Thyestes to a feast, but he secretly slaughtered all of Thyestes' children and served them to Thyestes in a manner that disguised the true nature of the meat. Thyestes unwittingly ate his own children. At the end of the meal, Atreus revealed to Thyestes what he…

Read the full The Eumenides Summary

The Eumenides Essays and Related Content

 

Posted By joe p #93831 at May 16, 2009 6:29 PM

Eumenides and the Persians

which aspect of the ideology of athens does both of these plays embody?

The Eumenides | Answers: 1

 

Posted By jannette h #63565 at Sep 10, 2008 7:00 PM

reconciling opposites

I need a few examples of how opposites are reconciled in the play

The Eumenides | Answers: 1

 

Posted By soso k #202291 at Sep 26, 2011 10:48 AM