The Bacchae | Teaching Key Figures

Character Descriptions

This section provides a short description of all the major characters in the book. This can be printed out as a study guide for students, used as a "key" for leading a class discussion, or you can jump to the quiz/homework section to find worksheets that incorporate these descriptions into a variety of question formats.

Characters

Agave - This character insulted a god by saying he was not the son of Zeus.

Cadmus - This character was the ancient founder of Thebes.

Chorus - These characters are a group of Asian Bacchae who wear deer skins and crowns of ivy. They carry the thyrsus wand and fennel stalk, and they drink, dance, and sing hymns.

Dionysus - This character is the Greek god of wine and revelry.

First Messenger - This character is a herdsman from Mount Cithaeron who appears halfway through the play to describe a terrible battle...
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