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Based On The Conviction That Only Translators Who Write Poetry Themselves Can Best Re-create The Celebrated And Timeless Tragedies Of Aeschylus, Sophocles, And Euripides, The Greek Tragedy In New Translations Series Offers New Translations That Go Beyond The Literal Meaning Of The Greek In Order To Evoke The Poetry Of The Originals. The Tragedies Collected Here Were Originally Available As Single Volumes. This New Collection Retains The Informative Introductions And Explanatory Notes Of The Original Editions, With Greek Line Numbers And A Single Combined Glossary Added For Easy Reference. The Volume Collects Euripides' Electra, An Exciting Story Of Vengence That Counterposes Suspense And Horror With Comic Realism; Orestes, The Tragedy Of A Young Man Who Kills His Mother To Avenge Her Murder Of His Father; Iphigenia In Tauris, A Delicately Written And Beautifully Contrived Euripidean Romance; And Iphigenia At Aulis, A Compelling Look At The Devastating Consequence Of Man's Inhumanity To Man.
The central conflict involves the collision of divine will, ancestral curses, and the moral disintegration of individuals caught within the rigid structures of Greek tragedy. The protagonists in these plays navigate extreme psychological and physical crises, often driven by vengeance, duty, or the desperate need for survival against the backdrop of ancient Greek societal norms. These narratives utilize a framework of dialogue and choral commentary to explore the logical constraints of fate and the physical consequences of human action. The translations prioritize the poetic integrity of the original Greek texts to maintain the rhythmic and emotional intensity inherent in the source material.
Readers and scholars frequently highlight the accessibility of these translations, noting that they successfully bridge the gap between academic rigor and poetic readability. Discussion often centers on the translators' ability to capture the distinct tonal shifts within Euripides' work, particularly the balance between horror and irony. Critics appreciate the inclusion of the original line numbers, which makes this collection a functional resource for both students and enthusiasts of classical literature. The volume is widely regarded as a cohesive and well-organized presentation of these specific tragedies, providing a clear window into the complexities of ancient Greek theater.
Page Count:
416
Publication Date:
2010-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0199745552
ISBN-13:
9780199745555
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