Study Questions on Aeschylus Agamemnon
1. Read the handout first from Homer. Be ready to describe the version of Agamemnon’s death
described there.
2. Read the opening speech of the watchman carefully. In only a hundred or so lines Aeschylus
establishes some stark differences between the play and the version in Homer. In what funda-
mental way does it differ from that of Aeschylus? How does Aeschylus’ version change our in-
terpretation of Aegisthus’ and Clytemnestra’s character?
3. How does Clytemnestra address Agamemnon when he arrives home? What does she convince
him to do (apparently against his will)? Why do you think she does so?
4. Compare Clytemnestra to Cassandra. What can you infer about the possible range of female
behavior between them?
5. What is Aegisthus’ role in the murders? What does that suggest about his personality? How
does that mesh with Aeschylus’ depiction of Clytemnestra?
6. Clytemnestra makes a truly remarkable speech after the murder of Agamemnon. How does she
defend her actions? How does the chorus of Argive men react to her speech?
7. How is a character like Clytemnestra imaginable for an Athenian playwright producing for an
Athenian audience?
8. How might an Athenian woman in the audience react to the play?