Masterpieces of Classic Greek Drama PDF
Preview Masterpieces of Classic Greek Drama
MASTERPIECES OF CLASSIC GREEK DRAMA MASTERPIECES OF CLASSIC GREEK DRAMA Ancient Greek drama is the foundation of Western civilization. At the same time, the world of the Greeks seems distant and exotic to contemporary students. This introductory guide overviews the historical, political, and cultural background of Greek drama. Designed for high* school students and undergraduates, this work begins with an overview of the contexts and terminology of Greek drama. It then provides detailed discussions of ten widely studied plays: • Agamemnon • The Choephoroi • The Eumenides • Antigone • Oedipus • Oedipus at Colonus • Medea • The Bacchae • The Birds • Lysistrata Chapters discuss the playwright's life and dramatic style, the role of myth in the play, the plot of the work, important speeches, and performance issues. Each chapter also directs the reader to further resources. Related Titles: Masterpieces of French Literature Masterpieces of 20th-century American Drama Masterpieces of Modern British and Irish Drama Masterpieces of Philosophical Literature ISBN D-313-33Ebfl-l ISBN: 0-313-33268-1 90000 Greenwood Press 88 Post Road West Westport, CT 06881 www.greenwood.com Cover design by Richard Rossiter 9»780313H332685 Cover image uScala/Art Resource, NY MASTERPIECES OF CLASSIC GREEK DRAMA Recent Titles in Greenwood Introduces Literary Masterpieces Masterpieces of French Literature Marilyn S. Severson Masterpieces of Modern British and Irish Drama Sanford Sternlicht Masterpieces of 20th-century American Drama Susan C. W. Abbotson MASTERPIECES OF CLASSIC GREEK DRAMA Helaine L. Smith Greenwood Introduces Literary Masterpieces GREENWOOD PRESS Westport, Connecticut • London Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Smith, Helaine. Masterpieces of classic Greek drama / Helaine Smith. p. cm. — (Greenwood introduces literary masterpieces, ISSN 1545-6285) Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and index. ISBN 0-313-33268-1 (alk. paper) 1. Greek drama—History and criticism—Handbooks, manuals, etc. I. Title. II. Series. PA3131.S59 2006 882'.0109^1c22 2005019210 British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data is available. Copyright © 2006 by Helaine L. Smith All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, by any process or technique, without the express written consent of the publisher. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2005019210 ISBN: 0-313-33268-1 ISSN: 1545-6285 First published in 2006 Greenwood Press, 88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881 An imprint of Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc. www.greenwood.com Printed in the United States of America The paper used in this book complies with the Permanent Paper Standard issued by the National Information Standards Organization (Z39.48-1984). 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 21 Hiram, Lucille, and Stuart, with love Contents Preface ix Introduction 1 1 Aeschylus: The Agamemnon (458 B.C.) 11 2 Aeschylus: The Choephoroi ("The Libation Bearers") (458 B.C.) 31 3 Aeschylus: The Eumenides (458 B.C.) 45 4 Sophocles: The Antigone (442 B.C.) 63 5 Sophocles: The Oedipus Rex (426 B.C.) 83 6 Sophocles: The Oedipus at Cohnus (406 B.C., performed 401 B.C.) 101 7 Euripides: The Medea (431 B.C.) 121 8 Euripides: The Bacchae (406 B.C., performed 405 B.C.) 145 9 Aristophanes: The Birds (414 B.C.) 165 10 Aristophanes: The Lysistrata (411 B.C.) 189 Selected Bibliography 209 Index 213
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