List of books and articles about electra sophocles. Building the human condition in agamemnon, electra, and the bacchae. This great classic will surely attract a whole new generation of sophocles readers. When agamemnon, the resident king, returned from the trojan war, his wife clytemnestra and her lover aegisthus murdered him and usurped the throne. In this play, however, the main focus is on orestes. Read electra by sophocles available from rakuten kobo. Pokemon anime x reader sophocles x reader take a break. Yeats, ezra pound, and more recently seamus heaney and tony harrison. Go to the editions section to read or download ebooks. Known even by the ancients as the philosopher of the stage, he is admired today for his belief in the individual and his. This translation may be freely downloaded and distributed by members of the.
Before we can delve into this story, we need a bit of back story. Known even by the ancients as the philosopher of the stage, he is admired today for his belief in the individual and his keen insight into the human psyche. Its date is not known, but various stylistic similarities with the philoctetes 409 bc and the oedipus at colonus 401 bc lead scholars to suppose that it was written towards the end of sophocles career. Elektra is a tragedy by the ancient greek playwright sophocles, probably dating from quite late in his career, around 410 bce or later. As a steed of generous race, though old, loses not courage. Of his works only seven have survived, one of which is the play oedipus the king. It is based on the story of electra and her brother orestes, and the vengeance they take on their mother clytemnestra and stepfather aegisthus for the murder of their father. Hanna roisman is arnmold benhard professor of arts and. Nick paynes urgent new version of sophocles electra is another in a long line of boundary breaking offerings. Sophocles elektra aka electra written circa 410bce.
Electra, sophocles only surviving play about the family of agamemnon, preserves the basic story as aeschylus revised it from homers odyssey c. Electra recounts the murders of clytemnestra and aegisthus by clytemnestras son orestes, to avenge their murder of his father agamemnon, commander of the greeks at troy, upon his return home. Sophocles version is presented from the viewpoint of electra, orestes sister, who laments her father, bears witness to her mothers crime, and for. The vivid translations, which combine elegance and modernity, are remarkable for their lucidity and accuracy, and are equally suitable for reading for. Sophocles bilingual anthology studies sophocles in print. But i have lived the best part of my life in hopeless childlessness. Oedipus and antigone work hand in hand, as antigone is the daughter or oedipus. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
Jan 01, 2017 electra or elektra is a greek tragedy by sophocles. The electra of sophocles and euripides philaletheians. Your father agamemnon lorded troops at troy, orestes, once, but only now you see what you. Electra and other plays sophoclespat easterlingdavid. Electra electra eelehktruh, daughter of the slain king, agamemnon, and his devious wife, clytemnestra, who spends her virginal lifeher name, a variation on alectra, means unbedded. So that if you have necessity to download sophocles antigone. As with many extant greek tragedies, we have no exact date for the the writing of electra, though scholars have argued that some of its stylistic features suggest it was written towards the end of sophocles life the story of orestes revenge is a fascinating one, not least because it is perhaps the only story for which we have a complete surviving treatment from each of the three major.
Euripides 480406 bc ranked with aeschylus and sophocles as one of the greatest greek dramatists, he enjoyed the least success of the three. There is the ancient argos of your yearning, 5 that consecrated land from which the gadfly drove the daughter of inachus. A new translation pdf, then youve come to the loyal site. His version of electras argument for her mothers wrongdoing is as moving as any ive read. A comparison of sophocles and euripides versions of electra. Sophocles version is presented from the viewpoint of electra, orestes sister, who laments her father, bears witness to her mothers crime, and for years endures her mothers scorn. List of books and articles about electra sophocles online. The title makes it clear that, unlike aeschylus, who focused on orestes, sophocless play takes his sister electra as. Paedagogus son of him who led our hosts at troy of old, son of agamemnon. Read sophocles x reader take a break from the story pokemon anime x reader by pokemanaic fighting spirit with 4,420 reads. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read electra. The bbc radio production of the 2014 old vic stage production of sophocles classic tragedy of power and revenge. Electra, a woman of many temperaments the literary rapport. Do not forget the ones you hate, nor yet waste hatred on them.
As in aeschylus libation bearers, the action in electra greek elektra follows the return of orestes to kill his mother, clytemnestra, and her lover aegisthus in retribution for their murder of orestes father, agamemnon. The internet classics archive electra by sophocles. The play is widely considered to be the high point in greek literature and has set itself apart from its counterparts by virtue of its excellence. Sophocles admirers and imitators, in the english speaking world alone, includes john milton, samuel johnson, percy shelley who translated oedipus the king and drowned with a text of sophocles in his pocket, matthew arnold, georg e eliot, virginia woolf, w. Antigone oedipus the king electra, sophocles, edith hall editor, h. As we discuss in our in a nutshell, sophocless play treats the same myth that his older contemporary, aeschylus, treated in his play the libation bearers, and that his contemporary euripides treated in his own play electra. Learn all about how the characters in electra such as electra and chrysothemis contribute to the story and how they fit into the plot. Electra by sophocles the 196th greatest fiction book of. Detailed analysis of characters in sophocles s electra. Under the general editorship of peter burian and alan.
In this play, however, the main focus is on orestes read more. Electra is one prominent female figure in ancient greek literature as all three of the renowned tragedians, aeschylus, sophocles, and euripides have written their own respective plays centered around this one woman. Electra by sophocles the 196th greatest fiction book of all. There is the ancient argos of thy yearning, that hallowed scene whence the gadfly drove the daughter of inachus. True friend and follower, how well dost thou prove thy loyalty to our house. Kitto translator this volume contains three masterpieces by the greek playwright sophocles, widely regarded since antiquity as the greatest of all the tragic poets. We use cookies for essential site functions and for social media integration. Persons orestes, son of agamemnon and clytemnestra electra, sister of orestes. Sophocles life and work more important, by ceasing to perform in his own tragedies, sophocles became the first playwright in the modern sense of the word i. Sophocles sure could turn a phrase, or at least he could through derek coltman. Electra, daughter of agamemnon and clytemnestra, rescued her young, twin brother orestes from her mother by sending him to strophius of phocis. Agamemnons exiled son does not forget, nor does the god who rules beneath by acheron.
This content was uploaded by our users and we assume good faith they have the permission to share this book. The play begins years later when orestes has returned as a grown man with a plot for revenge, as well as to claim the throne. Additional gift options are available when buying one ebook at a time. A man of wealth, charm, and genius, sophocles was given posts of responsibility in peace and in war by the athenians. In the hands of sophocles, the master dramatist, the anguished tale of a man fated to kill his father and marry his mother retains its power to shock and move beyond any freudian reference. Suppliants of all ages are seated round the altar at the palace doors, at their head a priestof zeus. Electra and other plays by sophocles, 9780140449785, download free ebooks, download free pdf epub ebook. Sophocles electra george theodoridis a new downloadable. We will be pleased if you revert us again and again. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of electra written by sophocles. Sophocles play dramatizes the aftermath of agamemnons murder by his wife clytemnestra and her lover aegisthus. His daughter electra is hungry for revenge and longs for the return of her brother orestes to help her achieve her ends.
Electra is the main character of this greek tragedy. Librivox recording of sophocles electra, translated by lewis campbell. Electra ebook by sophocles 9781910833940 rakuten kobo. The characters, electra and orestes, must reunite to avenge their fathers murder.
Paedagogus son of him who once commanded our forces at troy, son of agamemnon. Set in the city of argos a few years after the trojan war, it recounts the tale of electra and the vengeance that she and her brother. Their takes, on the other hand, differ vastly and depending on what type of woman portrayal peaks your interest, you are sure to find an enjoyable read with one of them. A new translation pdf, djvu, doc, epub, txt formats. Detailed analysis of characters in sophocless electra. Storrdramatis personae oedipus the priest of zeus creon chorus of theban elders teiresias jocasta messenger herd of laiusthebes. Pdf oedipus the king download full pdf book download.
Ill stay if i must, but would rather be far from here. Misfortunately, in both versions the just solution leads the siblings to destroying their own mother. This text is also available in an rtf format or a pdf format. Electra literature essays are academic essays for citation. Overview infographic context characters plot summary scene summaries prologos. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading electra. The daughter of agamemnon and clytemnestra, electra, smuggled her brother orestes out of town so that he could. The electra is the only extant play in which sophocles draws on the legends connect. Payne is one of our brightest new playwrights electrafying the evening standard poised and punchy the. The greek playwright sophocles was and still is thought of one of the most renowned and skilled masters of his time. Based on the conviction that only translators who write poetry themselves can properly recreate the celebrated and timeless tragedies of aeschylus, sophocles, and euripides, the greek tragedy in new translations series offers new translations that go beyond the literal meaning of the greek in order to evoke the poetry of the originals. For many, electra is required reading for various courses and curriculums. Apr 19, 2001 sophocles presents this story as a savage though necessary act of vengeance, vividly depicting electras grief, anger, and exultation.
Orestes arrives with his friend pylades, son of strophius, and a tutor. These two plays really show the ramifications of ones life choices and is frightening in some ways. Sophocles electra is based on one of the final episodes in the long and. Mar 15, 2018 free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. Sophocles electra a new freely downloadable translation. As we discuss in our in a nutshell, sophocles s play treats the same myth that his older contemporary, aeschylus, treated in his play the libation bearers, and that his contemporary euripides treated in his own play electra. Listen to electra storr translation by sophocles at. Electra written by legendary greek tragedian sophocles is widely considered to be one of the greatest greek tragedies of all time.
Electra or elektra is a greek tragedy by sophocles. This translation equals the original in ferocity of expression, and leaves intact the inarticulate cries of suffering and joy that fill the play. Daylight pure, bright sky, earths coverlet, you are longstanding nightfade witnesses to my laments, rent from my chest, so bloodied now with selfstruck blows, while, hated bed, you overhear my nightlong 90 dirge, within this wretched house, for my poor father. Sophocles uses amazing themes of honor, loyalty, and of course the tragedies of life. Sophocles and euripides versions of electra carry, among many similarities, a central theme of revenge. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg.