Greek Theater

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

Theater was one of the most treasured institutions of Classical Athens, where plays were performed that would move and shock audiences for centuries to come. In this class, we will survey the enthralling tradition of Classical Greek drama by reading texts translated into English from 5th century BCE Greek. Together, we will see families torn apart and reunited, soldiers returning home bearing the trauma of war, and women fighting for their freedom. We will proceed through selected works of the three primary Greek tragedians - Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides - and end with the absurdist comedy of Aristophanes. Each week will focus on one play to explore its primary themes as well as the functions and characteristics of ancient Greek theater, and the larger historical, archeological, and cultural contexts within which these texts were originally performed. No prior knowledge of Greek culture, history, or language is necessary.