Greek Dramatists: Aeschylus‚ Sophocles‚ Euripides‚ Aristophanes The theatrical culture of Ancient Greece flourished between 550 and 220 BC. The city-state of Athens‚ which became a significant societal‚ political and military power during this period‚ was its centre‚ where it was institutionalized as part of a festival “honoring Dionysus‚ the Greek god of wine and fertility.” (Benton) The centre-piece of the festivities was a competition between three tragic playwrights. Each submitted three tragedies
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honor from the gods. There will come another to avenge us‚ born to kill his mother‚ born his father’s champion. The gods have sworn a monumental oath: as his father lies upon the ground he draws him home with power like a prayer.” ( Aeschylus. The Oresteia U.S.A.: Penguin‚ 1975.) This vision proves to be very important when speaking about the innocence of Orestes and his heroism as well. Before the incident even takes place‚ we know that the gods have destined Orestes to avenge his
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Firstly‚ it was written earlier than The Histories‚ by someone who had been in the battle itself. Therefore‚ most of the information would be accurate to Aeschylus. However‚ when in the heat of battle‚ no-one knows exactly what is happening in other area’s‚ only what is happening in front of them. As such‚ a lot of what is considered facts in Aeschylus is more likely to be hearsay and rumours‚ although it may also be accurate. Also‚ it was written before Herodotus‚
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and in the end her ’strength of heart’ leads to her being able to ’strike’ Agamemnon down and kill him. Cassandra also is shown to be strong‚ but in a different way. The Chorus call her ’much enduring’ and say her ’heart is brave’ showing that Aeschylus does not believe that only men can be strong and brave‚ but women can as well. Women are also portrayed as untrustworthy and treacherous betrayers. Helen for example leaves her husband and child to run away with Paris the prince of Troy‚ causing
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She feels so justified in her actions‚ because Agamemnon sacrificed her daughter‚ and to her that was unforgivable (Aeschylus‚ Agamemnon). “He [Agamemnon] thought nothing more of it than killing a beast‚ and his flocks were rich‚ teeming in their fleece‚ but he sacrificed his own child‚ our daughter‚ the agony I labored into love to charm away the savage winds of Thrace.” (Aeschylus p. 163). Clytemnestra feels like Agamemnon gave no regard to their daughter’s life. The child that she raised and loved
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week. Some of the critical skills students will develop in the course include analytical skills in interpreting primary texts‚ participating in discussion and debate in tutorials‚ developing arguments‚ and writing essays. Required Texts: 1) Aeschylus‚ Oresteia‚ trans. C. Collard (Oxford World ’s Classics) 2) Euripides‚ Bacchae‚ trans. Paul Woodruff (Hackett) 3) Hesiod‚ Works and Days and Theogony‚ trans. Stanley Lombardo (Hackett) 4) Homer‚ The Iliad‚ trans. Robert Fitzgerald (New York: Farrar
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Expanded course description and learning objectives The mythical narratives of the ancient Greeks and the Romans constitute a continuous tradition that extends from before the reach of history to the present day. Myths survive in literary texts and visual art because their narratives have continued to prove compelling and fascinating in different languages‚ historical eras‚ and social contexts (the myths of Odysseus‚ Heracles‚ and Oedipus are just a few examples). Literature and art of all kinds
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There are many characters in the play Agamemnon by Aeschylus and they are all important in their own ways. One of the characters is Cassandra‚ a seer who was brought back with Agamemnon after Troy’s defeat. At first Cassandra seems like a minor character since she does not speak much‚ but as the play progresses‚ her character develops and she starts to play a larger role in the play. Cassandra is used by Aeschylus to a great extent. She and her supernatural powers help to make the audience feel more
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of Athena In the Greek trilogy of revenge The Oresteia‚ Aeschylus actively utilizes literary symbols to suggest significant parallels between the representative system of justice reflected in the play and the prevalent democratic attitudes of 5th century Greek society. The goddess Athena is instrumental in drawing these parallels‚ as it is she who establishes the unbiased court system in which Orestes is tried. However‚ Aeschylus also shows the necessity of divine intervention in the resolution
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Aeschylus‚ even though he probably did not sympathize with her as much as a modern audience would‚ still does her far more justice‚ and gives us a sympathetic enough portrayal that it is even possible to have more sympathy with Clytemnestra than Agamemnon‚ whatever Aeschylus intended. Aeschylus‚ even though he probably did not sympathize with her as much as any modern audience would‚ still does
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