Aristophanes and Cleon

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1. Why was Cleon unsuccessful in prosecuting Aristophanes?

  • The Assembly did not like Cleon for blackmailing the Athenian citizens
  • Playwrights could not be prosecuted for what anything said in a play
  • Aristophanes had the most expensive lawyer in Athens at the time
  • Playwrights were paid to attack and undermine politicians like Cleon
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2. What was Aristophanes' main reason for attacking Cleon?

  • He was being paid by Pericles to publicly humiliate Cleon to steer voters away from him
  • He believed that Cleon had slept with his wife
  • He wanted to avenge Cleon for attempting to prosecute him and blackmail the Athenians
  • He believed Cleon was attempting to make peace with Sparta

3. Which of Aristophanes' plays was the most direct attack on Cleon?

  • The Knights
  • Peace
  • The Acharnians
  • The Frogs

4. Why are Aristophanes' attacks on Cleon entertaining in his plays?

  • The audience knew Cleon was dying
  • The audience could see Cleon's family in the theatre
  • The audience knew Cleon was sitting in the front seat of the theatre
  • The audience knew Aristophanes would soon be arrested

5. Why did Cleon attempt to prosecute Aristophanes over one of his plays?

  • The play was a personal attack on Cleon's wife
  • The play revealed many of Assembly's secrets to foreign ambassadors
  • The play had disgraced Athens in front of foreign ambassadors
  • The play was a direct and personal attack on Cleon
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