A Guide to Ancient Greek Drama

by Ian C. Storey (Trent University); Arlene Allan (University of Otago)

• ISBN13: 9781405137638
• ISBN10: 1405137630
• Format: eBook
• Copyright: 2008-04-01
• 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.

Table of Contents

Preface

List of Figures

List of Maps

Abbreviations and Signs

Aspects of Ancient Greek Drama

Drama

The Dramatic Festivals

Dionysos and Drama

The Theatrical Space

Conventions of the Performance

Drama and the Polis

Greek Tragedy

Tragedy

Aeschylus

Sophokles

Euripides

The Other Tragedians

The Satyr-Play

Greek Comedy

Origins

Old Comedy and Aristophanes

The Generations of Old Comedy

Aristophanes

Middle Comedy

Menander and New Comedy

Approaching Greek Drama

Play Synopses

A Note on Meter

Glossary of Names and Terms

Further Reading

Index

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.