Symposium | Overview & Chapter Abstracts for Teachers

Chapter Abstracts

Chapter abstracts are short descriptions of events that occur in each chapter. They highlight major plot events and detail the important relationships and characteristics of characters and objects. The Chapter Abstracts can be used to review what the students have read, or to prepare the students for what they will read. Hand the abstracts out in class as a study guide, or use them as a "key" for a class discussion. They are relatively brief, but can serve to be an excellent refresher of the text for either a student or teacher.

Part 1, line 172a to line 177e Abstract

* Apollodorus relates the story of the Symposium that took place at Agathon's house in Athens.

Part 2, line 178a to 183d Abstract

* Aristodemus, the main source of information for the Symposium, meets Socrates, who is bathed and wearing sandals in preparation for the dinner party. (read more)