Sophocles

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

This course introduces advanced students to the dramatic art of Sophocles through two of his plays, Ajax and Oedipus Tyrannus. We will read the entirety of both works in Greek. Ajax tells the story of a mighty warrior who turns against his commanders and ultimately takes his own life; Oedipus depicts a king whose famed wisdom is no match for the riddle of his own identity. What do these tragedies teach us about fate, free will, and the limits of heroism? In discussing these plays, we will examine the formal conventions of tragedy; the social, economic, and political context of theater in Athens; costume, mask, and set design; music and dance; textual transmission; the art of translation; and the continuing relevance of tragedy today. Students should expect to come away with improved fluency in reading Greek verse and a synoptic view of ancient tragedy in its historical context.