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The Bacchae
The chorus is a group of Bacchae that Dionysus accumulated during his journeying through Asia. They don’t get involved in the action, but serve as a way of heightening the drama. For example, they invoke the “hounds of madness” in anticipation of Pentheus’ murder. In general, the chorus acts as a kind of commentary in the action—but in this case, they’re undoubtedly biased towards Dionysus.
The Chorus Quotes in The Bacchae
The The Bacchae quotes below are all either spoken by The Chorus or refer to The Chorus. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Lines 1 - 168
Quotes
Blessèd are those who know the mysteries of the god.
Blessèd are those who consecrate their lives to worship.
Blessèd are those who give themselves up to the dance,
to the mysteries, to purification on the holy mountain
where the dance and the mysteries take place.
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Explanation and Analysis:
Lines 520 - 866
Quotes
CHORUS
Look: the stone lintels gape from their columns!
The Roaring One is pulling down the palace from inside!
DIONYSUS
Spark the lightning bolt!
Let the flames feed on the house of Pentheus!
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Explanation and Analysis:
Lines 1023 - 1392
Quotes
The gods take many shapes,
accomplish many things beyond our expectations.
What we look for does not happen;
what we least expect is fashioned by the gods.
And that is what has happened here today.
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Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
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The Chorus Quotes in The Bacchae
The The Bacchae quotes below are all either spoken by The Chorus or refer to The Chorus. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Lines 1 - 168
Quotes
Blessèd are those who know the mysteries of the god.
Blessèd are those who consecrate their lives to worship.
Blessèd are those who give themselves up to the dance,
to the mysteries, to purification on the holy mountain
where the dance and the mysteries take place.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Lines 520 - 866
Quotes
CHORUS
Look: the stone lintels gape from their columns!
The Roaring One is pulling down the palace from inside!
DIONYSUS
Spark the lightning bolt!
Let the flames feed on the house of Pentheus!
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Lines 1023 - 1392
Quotes
The gods take many shapes,
accomplish many things beyond our expectations.
What we look for does not happen;
what we least expect is fashioned by the gods.
And that is what has happened here today.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
