Introduction

Aristophanes’ Clouds was first performed in 423 BC at the Great Dionysia. The play did not win the 1st prize and was only ranked third, which incited its author to modify it (see below on the question of the two versions of the Clouds).

Aristophanes’

Clouds

was first performed in 423 BC at the Great Dionysia. The play did not win the 1st prize and was only ranked third, which incited its author to modify it (see below on the question of the two versions of the

Clouds

).

Clouds is probably the first ‘comedy of ideas’: it does not deal with an entirely fantastical world and is not as full of low-key humour as other comedies from the same period. Its end, too, is not as clearly positive and comical as in other comedies of Aristophanes. This play is also very different from

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Citation: Paillard, Elodie. "Clouds". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 18 March 2018 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=13334, accessed 12 December 2024.]

13334 Clouds 3 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

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