The Intellectual Context

The plays (of Euripides and Sophocles) and the Sophistic Movement

Philoctetes and theories of early (natural) man

Nomos and phusis in the Hippolytus (or any other play)

Man is the measure

Aeschylus and the Ionic scientists and geographers

The question of knowledge in any play or plays

Can virtue be taught?

Suffering and learning

Shifting meanings of words

Probability is more real than fact?

The Social, Political, Historical Context

Where are the citizens: what civic institutions are present in a particular play?

Modalities: the hierarchical society

Women in myths: "the female intruder"

Slaves on stage

Barbarians in tragedy

Popular morality: friend, enemy; seeming and being

Patriotism in drama

Political myth and political reality

Reference to historical realities

Dating the plays by reference to external facts

Kingship and democracy

The Playwright and the polis (city-state)

Family life: Mothers and Daughters; Fathers and Sons;

Husbands and Wives; Siblings

Waging war

The Religious and Mythopoeic Context

Hero cults in the plays

Rituals in the dramas

The Delphic oracle in the plays

Personal piety of dramatic characters

Gods in the plays

Prayer, sacrifice, oaths in the plays

Human/divine cooperation in the three tragedians

References to other stages of the myth

Changes in the story

Development of a myth on stage: creation of a tragic meaning

The significance of mythic details in the choral odes

Artistic, Literary, Dramaturgic, Musical Context

The myths in art

Tragic scenes in art

Choice of subjects

Relation to Homeric or Lyric treatments

Construction of plays

Comparison of three playwrights in treatment of story or theme

Views of heroism

Relative importance of the chorus

Prologues

Importance of scene, setting

Use of three-person scenes

Aeschylus, Sophocles, or Euripides as musician

Importance of actors' prizes in understanding plays

Entrances and exits

Homer and tragedy

Choice of subject (where does a playwright start his drama; how much does he tell?)

The Nachleben (retellings, re-uses) of the stories in art, music, or literature

Beginnings and endings

It is a good idea to choose a topic or a general area of interest early. Write up a short paragraph about the topic (with reference to one or more plays). Make an outline. You may consult with me at any step.