The tragedies of Sophocles
Morwood, James, 1943-200805UU
Book
Provides separate discussions of each of Sophocles' seven plays: "Ajax", "Women of Trachis", "Antigone", "Oedipus the King", "Electra", "Philoctetes" and "Oedipus at Colonus". This work sets these between an essay that outlines modern approaches to Greek tragedy and a final chapter that spotlights a key moment in the reception of each work. This book provides separate discussions of each of Sophocles' seven plays: "Ajax", "Women of Trachis", "Antigone", "Oedipus the King", "Electra", "Philoctetes" and "Oedipus at Colonus". It sets these between an essay that outlines modern approaches to Greek tragedy and a final chapter that spotlights a key moment in the reception of each work. Focusing on the tragedies' dramatic power and the challenges with which they confront an audience, Morwood refuses to confine them within a supposedly Sophoclean template. They are seven unique works, only alike in the fact that they are all major masterpieces. The chapter on reception (the way Sophocles' tragedies have been received and re-interpreted by later generations) deals with Milton's "Samson Agonistes", the first Cambridge Greek play ("Ajax"), the Strauss/Hofmannsthal opera "Elektra", Anouilh's "Antigone", Pasolini's film "Edipo Re", Seamus Heaney's "The Cure at Troy" ("Philoctetes") and Martin Crimp's "Cruel and Tender" ("Women of Trachis"). It assesses each of Sophocles' tragedies as a unique entity. It includes a critical survey of modern approaches to Greek tragedy. It focuses on reception of Sophoclean tragedy through the ages - a key concern of modern classical studies courses.
Main title:
The tragedies of Sophocles / James Morwood.
Author:
Imprint:
Exeter : Bristol Phoenix Press : [distributor] NBN International Ltd : [distributor] Footprint Books : [distributor] Chicago Distribution Center, 2008.
Collation:
160 p. : col., ill., 4-cover ; 22x14 cm.
Series title:
Notes:
Paperback.
Audience:
Undergraduate
Biography/History:
James Morwood was Head of Classics at Harrow and is Emeritus Fellow of Wadham College, Oxford. Among his many publications are The Plays of Euripides and the introduction to Gilbert Murray's Euripides (published by Bristol Phoenix Press in 2005).
ISBN:
9781904675723 (pbk)1904675727 (pbk)
Dewey class:
882.01
Language:
English
Subject:
BRN:
76073