On completion of this module students should be able to:

• synthesize information about the social and theatrical context of the prescribed plays;
• demonstrate critical understanding of the prescribed plays as works of literature;
• evaluate modern interpretations of the prescribed plays;
• contribute constructively to group discussion;
• construct relevant and analytical written work on the prescribed plays.

Indicative lecture list

1. Introduction to Greek tragedy
2. Aeschylus, Agamemnon (1)
3. Aeschylus, Agamemnon (2)
4. Aeschylus, Libation Bearers
5. Aeschylus, Eumenides
6. Sophocles, Antigone (Creon)
7. Sophocles, Antigone (Antigone)
8. Sophocles, Oedipus the King (myth)
9. Sophocles, Oedipus the King (Oedipus; fate)
10 Sophocles, Oedipus at Colonus
11. No lecture
12. No lecture

Indicative tutorial list

1. No tutorial
2. No tutorial
3. The social and political context of Greek tragedy
4. Aeschylus, Agamemnon (1)
5. Aeschylus, Agamemnon (2)
6. Aeschylus, Libation Bearers
7. Aeschylus, Eumenides
8. Sophocles, Antigone
9. Sophocles, Oedipus the King
10. Sophocles, Oedipus at Colonus
11. No tutorial
12. No tutorial

Prescribed texts

Aeschylus, Oresteia (tr. C. Collard, Oxford World’s Classics)
Sophocles, Antigone, Oedipus the King, Oedipus at Colonus (in The Three Theban Plays tr. R. Fagles)

Indicative secondary reading

J. Griffin, ‘The social function of Attic tragedy’, Classical Quarterly 48 (1998), 39–61
A.F. Garvie, The Plays of Aeschylus (London, 2010)
M. Lloyd (ed.), Oxford Readings in Aeschylus (Oxford, 2007)
R. Mitchell-Boyask, Aeschylus: Eumenides (London, 2009)
C. Sourvinou-Inwood, ‘Assumptions and the creation of meaning: reading Sophocles’ Antigone’, Journal of Hellenic Studies 109 (1989), 134–48
H.P. Foley, ‘Tragedy and democratic ideology: the case of Sophocles’ Antigone’, in B. Goff (ed.), History, Tragedy, Theory: Dialogues on Athenian Drama (Austin, 1995), 131–50
E.R. Dodds, ‘On misunderstanding Oedipus Rex’, Greece and Rome 13 (1966), 37–49

Not applicable to this module.

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

Feedback on the written assignment will be sent to the students through Brightspace as soon as possible after submission, which will typically be within one week for this module. The lecturer will be available to give further individual feedback on request.