Lysistrata

Lysistrata’s sex strike is at the heart of Aristophanes’s play. What motivates the women to take such drastic measures to end the Peloponnesian War? Why does this plan work? What does the success of Lysistrata’s plan reveal about the respective roles of men and women in ancient Greece?

Teaching Suggestion: Students may find it helpful to analyze Aristophanes’s use of symbolism when addressing this prompt. Consider the sacred oath the women take, the torches that are both weapons and phallic symbols, and the significance of the women guarding the Acropolis. Such symbols and motifs can shed light on the way the ancient Greeks thought about their own world and the satirical message Aristophanes is trying to make.

Differentiation Suggestion: English learners, students with dyslexia, and those with attentional or executive function differences might find sorting through the entire text to find evidence daunting. You might help these students pinpoint the most relevant sections of text to limit the amount they need to review or allow students additional time to gather evidence. One good place to start is with the scene in which Lysistrata leads the women in the oath, from Lines 152-72.