In this course we will be reading two of the surviving works of fifth century Greek tragedy, Sophocles’ Antigone and Euripides’ Medea, together with selections from one of the earliest surviving works of literary theory on tragedy, Aristotle’s Poetics. Class time will be divided between translation and critical discussion, with attention to such topics as the playwright’s treatment of the inherited myth, the way in which the drama tells its the story,  the messenger speech and offstage action, the role and nature of the chorus, characterization, the relationship of divine and human, political resonances, gender conflicts and gender identity, the family, performance issues, and the language of dialogue and of choral ode, as well as to themes specific to each tragedy. 

In addition, we will practice reading aloud in the meter of dialogue and in some of the simpler choral meters; at some point during the semester we will look at different translations of a particular passage and students will try their hand at polished translation.

If possible we will arrange an extra sight-reading session (perhaps every other week?) in which we will read selections from one of Aeschylus’ tragedies, probably Prometheus Bound

Readings:

Basic texts:

Sophocles, Antigone, ed. N.P. Gross (Bryn Mawr 1988)
Euripides, Medea, ed. M. Kwintner (Bryn Mawr 1999)
Aristotle, Poetics, trans.  J. Hutton (New York 1982) plus selections in Greek (handout)

(Selected other editions of these works will be noted in the bibliography and placed on reserve.)

Required supplementary readings (in English):

Sophocles’ Oedipus the King and Oedipus at Colonus (recommended version: R. Fagles translation, Penguin edition)
Euripides, Helen, Ion or Orestes; Bacchae or Hippolytus (recommended versions: translations in Grene and Lattimore’s Chicago edition)

Secondary readings, selected from bibliography; most of these will be optional, but some required. 

Reference works:

Liddell/Scott/Jones, Greek Lexicon, with supplement (Oxford 1968).  For day-to-day use the intermediate is fine, but you should make a point of occasionally using the large version to check on words about which you have questions or in which you are particularly interested.

Smyth, H.W., Greek Grammar (Cambridge MA 1966).  This is still the most useful general reference for grammar and syntax.

Denniston, J.D. The Greek Particles, 2nd ed  (Oxford 1970) – for questions about all those pesky little words.

Requirements:

Prepared attendance and participation
Two brief class presentations, one on each play
One polished translation of a short passage
Translation midterm and final
Two 4-6 page papers, one on each play.

Schedule:

Jan 16-March 2: Sophocles’ Antigone (ca. 300 lines a week, with longer assignments for Monday than for Thursday), followed by selected critical readings.  Aristotle, Poetics, selections in Greek and the rest in English.

Thurs. March 2: Midterm exam
Thurs. March 16: paper on Antigone due.

March 13-April 27: Euripides’ Medea (300-400 lines a week); selected critical readings.

Thurs. Apr. 13: No class (Passover, first day)
Thurs. Apr 27: Final exam
May 6: Paper on Medea due for seniors
May 13: Paper on Medea due for others