The Bacchae

Discuss the significance of the loom and its connection to the Bacchae’s exploration of duality and boundary crossing.

What are Cadmus and Teiresias’ arguments for adopting Dionysian rites? What are Pentheus’ for opposing them? Which has the stronger argument, in the context of the Bacchae’s central themes?

What is the Bacchae’s stance toward the gods? Defend your answer with at least three specific examples from the text.

Select three uses of hunting imagery and analyze how it connects to the theme of liminality.

At the beginning of the play, Teiresias notes, “The traditions of our forefathers that we have inherited, as old as time, shall not be overthrown by any clever argument, though it be devised by the subtlest of wits” (132). What does he mean by this, and how do you know?

Discuss the significance of Dionysus’ calm demeanor across the play.

When Dionysus leads Pentheus out of the city, he tells him, “now you see what you should see” (152). What does Dionysus mean by this? What does it mean for Pentheus?

Analyze the use of the motif of theoxeny in the play.