Rhetoric has been used throughout history, including the classical era. In fact, it was often celebrated in ancient Greece, where rhetoric was often seen as a skill and even an art form. Since then, it has evolved and modified according to different standards in different languages. However, similarities can be drawn between the writing style of ancient literatures and that of modern works. When an ancient work is translated, the translator can choose specific words to capture the themes and overall flow of the writing. An example of this is Alan H. Sommerstein's translation of Aristophanes' work, “The Acharnians.” Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay "The Acharnians" is one of the earliest surviving works of Aristophanes. Although he is believed to have produced this play with Callistratus to win one of many first place awards in comedies, Aristophanes is accepted as the author. Throughout his life, he won numerous awards for his plays, often causing powerful enemies, such as a government official named Cleon, as his plays often mocked Athenian society and politics. “The Acharnians” is no exception. In “The Acharnians,” Sommerstein uses rhetorical devices to recreate Aristophanes' distinct writing style which not only appeals to the audience but also portrays Aristophanes' sarcastic tones and views on Athenian society. A literary device used throughout the work is rhyme. In fact, rhyme is the first literary device he employs in the first scene. In Diceopoli's monologue, Sommerstein uses words ending with “ic” at the end of multiple sentences. For example, use the words pleasant, ecstatic, traumatic, and tragic in lines five through ten. By including the rhyme in the passage, Sommerstein is able to keep the audience's attention. Rhymes create a sense of rhythm in the text, so instead of just reading a block of text, certain parts are emphasized, making the monologue sound like it's being spoken when read. Another way rhyme is used in the show to create a sense of rhythm the sense of rhythm is in all the chants and songs. Distinct rhyming patterns are used when different characters give their speeches or sing their songs. This is first seen when the leader of the Acari mob sings to encourage the mob to go after Diceopolis for trying to make peace with the Spartans. The leader has an AABB rhyme scheme in his speech. Between lines 204 and 207, each sentence ends with words that follow the AABB pattern. The words used are found, earth, man and can. However, when the choir, or crowd, responds, the rhyme scheme changes to ABCB DEFE. Rhyming words are placed at the end of each sentence, but the pattern is separated by buffer words because each sentence is split across two lines. In lines 208 to 215, the rhyming words are scene, been, coal, soul, the words on lines 209, 211, 213, and 215, respectively. This change in rhyme scheme creates two different rhythms for the leader and the mob. This can be interpreted as a method of showing the difference in intelligence between the two, because when Diceopoli sings a song to respond to the crowd, his verses are in the AABB pattern. Between lines 264 and 274 this rhyme scheme is used, ending with the full scheme of AABBCCDEEF. This different rhyme scheme can be seen as a sign of different intellectual thoughts because Diceopolis is one of the few characters who is actually described as semi-intelligent and not corrupt. Therefore, by varying the rhythms and rhyme schemes with which the different characters speak, the differences between are also highlightedtheir traits. Another rhetorical device present in the work is the polysyndeton, which is the use of multiple and unnecessary conjunctions. An example of this is in the opening scene, when Diceopolis is found describing his state, while waiting for the Athenian officials to arrive at the meeting. Multiple “and” and “I will” are used in this section to show his boredom and the absurdity of the officer's delay. This is demonstrated when he states: "I sit down, and after a while, when I see that no one else is coming, I sigh and yawn and stretch and fart and then I don't know what to do, and then I scribble... .and I keep looking the countryside...” (Lines 29-33). Diceopoli's frustration also manifests itself in this section, when he thinks about what he would do if the meeting did not address the issue of war. He states: "I will scream, I will disturb, I will abuse, I ..." (Line 38). Polysyndeton was used in the play to portray Dicaiopolis' dissatisfaction and highlight the inappropriate actions and behavior of government officials. Dicaiopolis's resentment towards Athenian government officials mirrors that of Aristophanes. Indeed , there are multiple allusions in the work that tie Dikeopolis to Aristophanes, with most of the allusions ridiculing the politician Cleon. Although Cleon is first mentioned in line six, he is later mentioned as having falsely accused Dikeopolis of defaming the. city ​​in the presence of foreigners (lines 502-504). Aristophanes does not elaborate on this point, largely because the ancient Greeks of that time probably knew how Cleon took Aristophanes to court and accused him of the exact same crime. By alluding to this exact event, Aristophanes manages to connect him to Diceopolis, and essentially declare them to be the same person. This is also supported by the allusion to Euripides, a tragic playwright. In this passage, Diceopolis asks Euripides for props to make him look like a beggar. Euripides was another famous playwright of this time period, and by including him as a character in the play, Aristophanes is able to make the play relevant to the time period. By alluding to certain events and characters, the audience would know that the play was about the actual time period it was in, which was roughly the time of the Peloponnesian Wars. In addition to the relevance of the time period, Aristophanes also emphasizes the importance of the different locations of the show. Sommerstein translates it using similes and metaphors in the dialogue between Diceopoli and the chorus. An example of this is in line twenty-three, when Diceopolis refers to the mob's thirst for violence as "black embers of your wrath." In this metaphor, anger is compared to fire while the black embers are their desire for revenge. It is important to note the use of “black ember” because the crowd is made up of Acharnians and their land is known for charcoal. Their land was once destroyed by the Spartans, which is why they were initially upset that Diceopolis had made peace with the Spartans. Diceopoli later uses their connections to Coal to convince them to listen to him instead of killing him on the spot. A simile that Sommerstein uses to refer to the house of Diceopolis is in line 350, when he compares temper to sour grapes. Although the Athenians are not usually associated with grapes, Diceopolis worshiped Dionysus, who is the god of wine. It is important to specify the different places and areas because the end result of Diceopolis' actions is the freedom to trade and avoid conflicts with the Spartans, who were in the north. Sommerstein shows the differences between places through similes and metaphors. Although the different places are important, it is also necessary to see that the culture of the different areas is very similar, regarding the gods and mythology. “The Acharnians” is a work.