Ο ΑΟΙΔΟΣ (β)

ἐπεὶ δὲ οἱ εἰς τὸ θέατρον ἀφικνοῦνται, ὁ μὲν Ἀριστοφάνης φησὶν "ἥδου, ὦ Σώκρατα, τὴν γέλοιαν κωμῳδίαν" · ἐπεὶ δὲ ὁ ὄπισθεν τῆς σκηνῆς ταχεῶς ἔρχεται (ὁ γὰρ βούλετάι τε τοῖς ὑποκρίταις βοηθεῖν καὶ τὸν Σωκράτην φεύγειν · ὁ δε Ἄργος καὶ Ἀλκιβιάδης καὶ Σωκράτης τὰς ἕδρας ζητοῦσιν. ἀλλ' οἴμοι! τὸ θέατρόν ἐστι μεστόν · οἱ γὰρ δῆμοι τὴν κωμῳδίαν θεωρεῖν φιλοῦσιν. πρῶτον οὖν, οἱ σοφοὶ καὶ ὁ κύων ἀνὰ τοὺς βαθμοὺς βαίνουσιν · (ἐκεῖ δέ, τις "χαῖρε, ὦ Ἀλκιβίαδα" βοᾷ · "ὦ σοφὲ καὶ καλὲ παῖ.") ἀλλ' ἔτι, οἱ τὰς ἕδρας οὐχ εὑρίσκουσιν. ἔπειτα δὲ, οἱ κατὰ τοὺς βαθμοὺς βαίνουσιν · ἀλλ' ἐκεῖ τὰς ἕδρας οὐ βλέπουσιν αὖθις. ἐνταῦθα δή, (διότι περὶ τὴν κωμῳδίαν οὐκετι φροντίζει) ὁ Ἀλκιβιάδης τῷ Σωκράτῃ "οἴμοι, ὦ Σώκρατά" φησιν · "οὐ δυνάμεθα τὰς ἕδρας εὑρίσκειν ·οὐ, οὖν, δυνάμεθα τὴν κωμῳδίαν θεωρεῖν. ἡμεῖς καὶ μέντοι, δυνάμεθά τε πρὸς τὴν ἀγορὰν ἐπανέρχόμεσθαι καὶ τὸν οἶνον πίνειν." ἔπειτα δὲ ὁ Σωκράτης "ἴσως ὦ Ἀλκιβίαδά," φησιν · "ἥ σου γνώμη ἐστὶν ἀκριβής · ἐγὼ γὰρ οὐ βλέπω τὰς ἡμῖν ἕδρας."

Upon their arrival at the θέατρον, what does Aristophanes tell Socrates to do?
1. Take a hike.
2. Enjoy the comedy.
3. Go and get refreshments for them all.
4. Pay close attention to the chorus.
Where does Aristophanes himself hurry off to?
1. The wine tent.
2. The smoking area.
3. Backstage.
4. The ἀγορά.
And why does he hurry there?
1. He wants to help the actors and to avoid Socrates during the play.
2. He sees his ex-partner briskly approaching down the aisle.
3. Alcibiades is getting on his nerves.
4. He is superstitious about mingling before a show.
With the sudden departure of Aristophanes, what do Argos, Alcibiades and Socrates do immediately?
1. Return to the ἀγορά to look for something better to do.
2. Start arguing.
3. Talk of the καλὰ καὶ ἀγαθά.
4. Look for available seats.
What problem do they immediately encounter?
1. They lose Argos.
2. The theatre is already packed.
3. They are bullied by visiting Melians.
4. There are too many good seats to choose from.
Why is the θέατρον so crowded?
1. Because it is extraordinarily small for so large a population.
2. Because it is free.
3. Because the people love to watch comedies.
4. Because there is mandatory attendance enforced by the tyrant, Eupolus.
What happens to Alcibiades as the clever men and the dog look high and low for seating?
1. He is leeringly greeted by a member of the crowd.
2. He trips down the stairs.
3. He becomes hungry.
4. He finds a seat for himself and takes it.
With the lack of seating preventing them from watching the play, what options, according to Alcibiades, are still open to them?
1. They can stand outside the θέατρον and listen to the play.
2. They can go home and make their own comedy.
3. They can return to the ἀγορά and drink wine.
4. They can bully people from their seats.
What does Socrates think of this proposal?
1. It's garbage.
2. He concedes that Alcibiades' judgement may, in fact, be worth considering for once.
3. He wishes he had thought of it himself.
4. He's undecided and wants to consult Aristophanes and Argos before making a rash decision.

Ο ΑΟΙΔΟΣ (β)

Multiple-choice exercise

Ο ΑΟΙΔΟΣ (β)