CRITICISM

Ehrenberg, Victor. The People of Aristophanes: A Sociology of Old Attic Comedy. Oxford, England: Basil Blackwell, 1943, 319p.

Presents a historical and sociological account of life in ancient Athens as gleaned from Old Attic Comedy.

Elliott, Richard Thomas. Introduction to The Acharnians of Aristophanes, by Aristophanes, edited by Richard Thomas Elliott, pp. vii-xxxix. London: Oxford University Press, 1914.

Compares variant texts from many different manuscripts and fragments.

Foley, Helene. “Tragedy and Politics in Aristophanes' Acharnians.” In Theater and Society in the Classical World, edited by Ruth Scodel, pp. 119-38. Ann Arbor: The University of Michigan Press, 1993.

Investigates how Aristophanes manipulated Euripidean tragedy in order to convince his audience to accept his political satire.

Moulton, Carroll. “The Lyric of Insult and Abuse.” In Aristophanic Poetry, pp. 18-47. Göttingen, Germany: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1981.

Examines variations of invective in Aristophanes's plays.

Murray, Gilbert. “Ancient Greek Comedy: Aristophanes' Background (Daitales, Babylonians, Acharnians).” In Aristophanes: A Study, pp. 1-38. New York: Russell & Russell, Inc., 1964.

Traces the development of comedy and discusses the unprecedented toleration shown by Athenians in response to the Acharnians.

Rogers, Benjamin Bickley. Introduction to The Acharnians of Aristophanes, by Aristophanes, translated by Benjamin Bickley Rogers, pp. v-lvi. London: George Bell & Sons, 1910.

Overview of the Acharnians.

Russo, Carlo Ferdinando. “Acharnians.” In Aristophanes: An Author for the Stage, pp. 33-77. London: Routledge, 1994.

Analysis of the Acharnians, including sections on the significance of the name Dikaiopolis, the lack of stage notes and directions in texts, Aristophanes's use of theatrical time, and the physical operation of the theater.

Silk, M. S. Aristophanes and the Definition of Comedy. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press, 2000, 456p.

Explores the nature of comedy and Aristophanes's pioneering efforts.

Sommerstein, Alan H. Introduction to Acharnians, by Aristophanes, edited by Alan H. Sommerstein, pp. 1-31. Wilts, England: Aris & Phillips Ltd, 1980.

Discusses the structure of Athenian comedy, how the comedies were produced, and how they were transmitted.

Taaffe, Lauren K. “The Representation of Female Figures in Aristophanes' Plays Before 411 BCE.” In Aristophanes and Women, pp. 23-47. London: Routledge, 1993.

Analyzes elements of the Acharnians, particularly its female characters, noting that they are more a theatrical device than realistic representations of contemporary women.

Additional coverage of Aristophanes's life and career is contained in the following sources published by the Gale Group: Dictionary of Literary Biography, Vol. 176; DISCovering Authors; DISCovering Authors 3.0; DISCovering Authors: British; DISCovering Authors: Canadian; DISCovering Authors Modules: Most-studied Authors and Dramatists; Drama Criticism, Vol. 2; and World Literature Criticism Supplement.