Author Description
This is an invaluable introduction to ancient Greek tragedy which discusses every surviving play in detail and provides all the background information necessary for understanding the context and content of the plays. Edith Hall argues that the essential feature of the genre is that it always depicts terrible human suffering and death, but in a way that invites philosophical enquiry into their causes and effects, This enquiry was played out in the bright sunlight of open-air theatre, which became a key marker of the boundary between living and dead. The first half of the book is divided into four chapters which address the social and physical contexts in which the plays were performed, the contribution of the poets, actors, funders, and audiences, the poetic composition of the texts, their performance conventions, main themes, and focus on religion, politics, and the family. The second half consists of individual essays on each of the surviving thirty-three plays by the Greek tragedians, and an account of the recent performance of Greek tragic theatre and tragic fragments. An up-to-date 'Suggestions for further reading' is included.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This work investigates the fundamental nature of ancient Greek tragedy by examining how the genre utilizes the depiction of human suffering to provoke philosophical inquiry. Edith Hall, a prominent scholar of classical antiquity, draws upon historical performance data and textual analysis to argue that the open-air theatrical environment served as a critical boundary between the living and the dead. The book provides a comprehensive framework for understanding how social, political, and religious contexts shaped the composition and reception of these ancient works.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Analysis of the social and physical contexts of ancient Greek theatrical performance.
- Examination of the roles played by poets, actors, funders, and the Athenian audience.
- Individual critical essays covering all thirty-three surviving plays by the major Greek tragedians.
- Discussion of performance conventions, poetic composition, and thematic focus on religion and family.
Scope Limits
- The text focuses primarily on the surviving thirty-three plays and does not provide an exhaustive analysis of lost works beyond tragic fragments.
- The book serves as an introductory academic survey rather than a specialized linguistic analysis of the original Greek texts.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Scholars and students frequently cite this text as a foundational resource for understanding the intersection of performance history and literary analysis in classical drama. Readers note the clarity of the prose, which makes complex historical and theatrical concepts accessible to those new to the study of Greek tragedy.
Page Count:
432
Publication Date:
2010-01-01
ISBN-10:
0191572616
ISBN-13:
9780191572616
History
Drama
Ancient Greece
English
Literary Criticism
English & College Success
Greek drama