A Guide to Ancient Greek Drama

by Storey, Ian C.; Allan, Arlene

• ISBN13: 9780470776209
• ISBN10: 047077620X
• Edition: 1st
• Format: eBook
• Copyright: 2008-02-25
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Summary

This Blackwell Guide introduces ancient Greek drama, which flourished principally in Athens from the sixth century BC to the third century BC.

A broad-ranging and systematically organised introduction to ancient Greek drama.

Discusses all three genres of Greek drama – tragedy, comedy, and satyr play.

Provides overviews of the five surviving playwrights – Aeschylus, Sophokles, Euripides, Aristophanes, and Menander, and brief entries on lost playwrights.

Covers contextual issues such as: the origins of dramatic art forms; the conventions of the festivals and the theatre; the relationship between drama and the worship of Dionysos; the political dimension; and how to read and watch Greek drama.

Includes 46 one-page synopses of each of the surviving plays.

Author Biography

Ian C. Storey is Professor of Classics and Ancient History and Principal of Otonabee College, Trent University, Ontario. He is the author of Eupolis: Poet of Old Comedy (2003).

Arlene Allan is Assistant Professor of Classics and Ancient History, Trent University, Ontario.

Table of Contents

Preface.

List of Figures.

List of Maps.

Abbreviations and Signs.

1. Aspects of Ancient Greek Drama.

Drama.

The Dramatic Festivals.

Dionysos and Drama.

The Theatrical Space.

Conventions of the Performance.

Drama and the Polis.

2. Greek Tragedy.

Tragedy.

Aeschylus.

Sophokles.

Euripides.

The Other Tragedians.

3. The Satyr-Play.

4. Greek Comedy.

Origins.

Old Comedy and Aristophanes.

The Generations of Old Comedy.

Aristophanes.

Middle Comedy.

Menander and New Comedy.

5. Approaching Greek Drama.

6. Play Synopses.

A Note on Meter.

Glossary of Names and Terms.

Further Reading.

Index