The Bacchae
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Lines 1 - 168 Lines 169 - 519 Lines 520 - 866 Lines 867 - 1022 Lines 1023 - 1392
Themes
All Themes Disguise, Deception, and Identity Gods and Mortals Order vs. Irrationality Violence
Quotes
Characters
All Characters Dionysus Pentheus Cadmus Agave Tiresias The Herdsman The Second Messenger The Bacchae The Chorus Semele Zeus Harmonia
Symbols
All Symbols The Palace Thyrsus Hair
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The Bacchae

by Euripides
Upgrade to A+
Introduction Intro
Plot Summary Plot
Summary & Analysis
  • Lines 1 - 168
  • Lines 169 - 519
  • Lines 520 - 866
  • Lines 867 - 1022
  • Lines 1023 - 1392
Themes
  • All Themes
  • Disguise, Deception, and Identity Theme Icon
    Disguise, Deception, and Identity
  • Gods and Mortals Theme Icon
    Gods and Mortals
  • Order vs. Irrationality Theme Icon
    Order vs. Irrationality
  • Violence Theme Icon
    Violence
Quotes
Characters
  • All Characters
  • Dionysus
  • Pentheus
  • Cadmus
  • Agave
  • Tiresias
  • The Herdsman
  • The Second Messenger
  • The Bacchae
  • The Chorus
  • Semele
  • Zeus
  • Harmonia
Symbols
  • All Symbols
  • The Palace Symbol Icon
    The Palace
  • Thyrsus Symbol Icon
    Thyrsus
  • Hair Symbol Icon
    Hair
Theme Wheel Theme Viz
Download this Chart (PDF)
Download the Teacher Edition
Download this Chart (PDF)

The Bacchae Study Guide

It's easy to cite LitCharts for use in academic papers and reports.


MLA

Howard, James. "The Bacchae." LitCharts. LitCharts LLC, 3 Nov 2018. Web. 14 Apr 2026.


Chicago

Howard, James. "The Bacchae." LitCharts LLC, November 3, 2018. Retrieved April 14, 2026. https://www.litcharts.com/lit/the-bacchae.

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