Synopsis: This collection features authoritative translations that prioritize contemporary idiom, offering life and speed with a keen poetic sensibility. The critical commentaries and translations are fresh and functional, making them accessible without being overly ornate or affected.

Synopsis: Sophocles, a great tragic poet of Athens, explored themes of mythology and legend in his plays, featuring heroic figures whose strengths also lead to their tragic downfall. In this new translation by Hugh Lloyd-Jones, Volume I includes three of his surviving works: "Oedipus Tyrannus," which recounts the famous Oedipus story; "Ajax," a tragedy focused on wounded pride; and "Electra," which tells of siblings seeking revenge for their father's murder.

Synopsis: "Oedipus: Tragic Heroism and the Limits of Knowledge" is a comprehensive literary study of Sophocles' "Oedipus Tyrannus" (Oedipus Rex). This volume provides a scene-by-scene analysis of the text alongside its historical, intellectual, social, and mythical context. It explores the play's themes, including moral and philosophical issues, the role of the gods, and the dynamics of character, fate, and chance. The guide also traces interpretations of the play from antiquity to modern times, highlighting its influence on the European conception of tragedy and notions of the self. This second edition includes new approaches to Greek tragedy and current scholarship, making it suitable for students of classical literature, Greek drama, and related fields, as well as general readers interested in the subject.

Synopsis: This volume features four plays by Sophocles: - **Electra** presents part of the Orestean legend. - **Woman of Trachis** explores human emotions within a challenging mythological context. - **Philoctetes** depicts the struggle of right against might. - **Ajax** focuses on the theme of a great man fallen.

Synopsis: Charles Segal shifts the focus from the heroic figures in Sophocles' dramas to the broader world that shapes their actions—encompassing family, city, nature, and the supernatural. Through a series of interconnected essays, he examines five of Sophocles' seven extant plays: Ajax, Oedipus Tyrannus, Philoctetes, Antigone, and Trachinian Women. Segal analyzes the language and structure of these plays from various interpretive perspectives, incorporating traditional philological analysis and modern literary and cultural theory. He emphasizes the mythic and ritual backgrounds, highlighting Sophocles' reinterpretation of ancient myths and the complex relationships between the heroes, their families, and societal norms, as well as the interplay between society, nature, and the divine. Segal's analysis provides new insights into the implications of these plays for Greek conceptions of the gods, morality, and sexuality.

Synopsis: This collection features the complete surviving plays of Sophocles, including: - **Ajax**: The story of Odysseus's greatest Trojan enemy, who descends into madness and ultimately takes his own life. - **Women of Trachis**: Deianira prepares a deadly welcome for her unfaithful husband, Heracles. - **Electra**: The siblings of Agamemnon plot revenge against their usurping stepfather and mother. - **Philoctetes**: A profound exploration of pain, love, and betrayal. Introduced by series editor J. Michael Walton.

Synopsis: The Penn Greek Drama Series offers original literary translations of the complete works of classical Greek drama, including tragedies, comedies, and satyr plays by Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, Aristophanes, and Menander. This contemporary series provides accessible translations for new readers while offering a reinterpretation of traditional masterpieces for classicists. The collection will feature new verse translations of the complete surviving tragedies and comedies, making it a significant resource for those interested in Greek theater.

Synopsis: Charles Segal analyzes Sophocles’ plays, exploring his role as both a dramatic poet and a thinker. He examines how Sophoclean tragedy reflects humanity's struggle for order and civilization amid the threats of savagery and chaos, both in society and within the individual. This edition includes a new preface discussing recent developments in Sophocles studies.

Synopsis: "Iphigenia at Aulis" dramatizes the myth of Iphigenia, the young virgin sacrificed by her father, Agamemnon, at the beginning of the expedition against Troy. Set against the backdrop of the end of the Peloponnesian War, the play explores the breakdown of social norms, pitting Greeks against Greeks and men against women, ultimately condemning young brides to death. Pantelis Michelakis examines the mythological, socio-political, and institutional contexts, along with the main themes and significant issues in modern criticism, concluding with an outline of performance history and reception.

Synopsis: Agamemnon's sacrifice of his daughter to secure victory in the Trojan War unfolds as a domestic tragedy. Mr. Rudall's new translation preserves Euripides' poetic beauty while creating a dialogue suitable for performance.