Lit ATAR units 3 & 4: Medea
FEATUREIMAGE
Library Books
The Cambridge Companion to Greek Tragedy by
This book presents ancient Greek tragedy in the context of late-twentieth-century reading, criticism and performance. The twelve chapters, written by seven distinguished scholars, cover tragedy as an institution in the civic life of ancient Athens, a range of approaches to the surviving plays, and changing patterns of reception, adaptation and performance from antiquity to the present.
ISBN: 9780521423519Publication Date: 1997-10-02
The Cambridge Companion to Greek and Roman Theatre by
This series of essays by prominent academics and practitioners investigates in detail the history of performance in the classical Greek and Roman world. Beginning with the earliest examples of 'dramatic' presentation in the epic cycles and reaching through to the latter days of the Roman Empire and beyond, this 2007 Companion covers many aspects of these broad presentational societies. Dramatic performances that are text-based form only one part of cultures where presentation is a major element of all social and political life. Individual chapters range across a two thousand year timescale, and include specific chapters on acting traditions, masks, properties, playing places, festivals, religion and drama, comedy and society, and commodity, concluding with the dramatic legacy of myth and the modern media. The book addresses the needs of students of drama and classics, as well as anyone with an interest in the theatre's history and practice.
ISBN: 9780521542340Publication Date: 2007-05-31
Euripides by
Treating ancient plays as living drama. Classical Greek drama is brought vividly to life in this series of new translations. Students are encouraged to engage with the text through detailed commentaries,including suggestions for discussion and analysis. In addition, numerous practical questions stimulate ideas on staging and encourage students to explore the play's dramatic qualities. Medea is suitable for students of both Classical Civilisation and Drama. Useful features include full synopsis of the play, commentary alongside translation for easy reference and a comprehensive introduction to the Greek Theatre. Medea is aimed primarily at A-level and undergraduate students in the UK, and college students in North America.
ISBN: 9780521644792Publication Date: 2000-04-20
Orestes and Other Plays by
Written during the long battles with Sparta that were to ultimately destroy ancient Athens, these six plays by Euripides brilliantly utilize traditional legends to illustrate the futility of war. The Children of Heracles holds a mirror up to contemporary Athens, while Andromache considers the position of women in Greek wartime society. In The Suppliant Women, the difference between just and unjust battle is explored, while Phoenician Women describes the brutal rivalry of the sons of King Oedipus, and the compelling Orestes depicts guilt caused by vengeful murder. Finally, Iphigenia in Aulis, Euripides' last play, contemplates religious sacrifice and the insanity of war. Together, the plays offer a moral and political statement that is at once unique to the ancient world, and prophetically relevant to our own.
ISBN: 9780140442595Publication Date: 1972-09-30
Introduction
“Medea” (Gr: “Medeia”) is a tragedy written by the ancient Greek playwright Euripides, based on the myth of Jason and Medea, and particularly Medea's revenge against Jason for betraying her with another woman. Often considered Euripides’ best and most popular work and one of the great plays of the Western canon, it only won third prize when it was presented at the Dionysia festival in 431BCE, along with the lost plays “Philoctetes”, “Dictys” and “Theristai”.http://www.ancient-literature.com/greece_euripides_medea.html
BBC Learning Zone - Medea
- BBC Learning Zone - Medea Euripides' "Medea" was first produced in 431 BC. Its theatrical power to question conventional gender roles and moral accountability, although conceding over 2000 years of interpretation and re-interpretation, remains undiminished as its eponymous central character, female, determined and driven to commit acts of chilling infanticide and murder, "almost" justifies the unjustifiable. Or does it?