Oedipus Rex

by Sophocles

Overview

One of the greatest of the classic Greek tragedies and a masterpiece of dramatic construction. Catastrophe ensues when King Oedipus discovers he has inadvertently killed his father and married his mother. Masterly use of dramatic irony greatly intensifies impact of agonizing events. Sophocles' finest play, Oedipus Rex ranks as a towering landmark of Western drama. Explanatory footnotes.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780486110219
Publisher:	Dover Publications
Publication date:	02/01/2012
Series:	Dover Thrift Editions: Plays
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	64
Sales rank:	217,796
Lexile:	1010L (what's this?)
File size:	1 MB
Age Range:	14 - 18 Years

About the Author

Sophocles(ca. 497/6-407/6 BCE) was the most acclaimed dramatist of his era, winning more than twenty festival competitions in ancient Athens. He is believed to have written 123 plays, but only seven have survived in a complete form. David Mulroy is professor of classics at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He has translated The Complete Poetry of Catullus, also published by the University of Wisconsin Press.

 

Table of Contents

Preface       

Introduction       

    Historical Background       

    Interpretive Issues       

Sophocles, Oedipus Rex       

Appendix 1. The Riddle of the Sphinx       

Appendix 2. A Synopsis of Sophocles' Theban Trilogy       

Suggestions for Further Reading

Editorial Reviews

A great work of world literature has at last become a great poem in English. Mulroy’s translation is far superior to other available English verse translations.”—Robert J. Rabel, editor of Approaches to Homer, Ancient and Modern

“Introductory notes on such matters as the historical background, fate vs. free will, and (inevitably) the Oedipus Complex are clear and useful.”—Peter Green, The New York Review of Books

From the Publisher

Mulroy (classics, Univ. of Wisconsin, Milwaukee) gives Sophocles's standard a crisp update, morphing it into contemporary English while retaining the Greek rhythms, etc. He also supplies an intro, appendixes, and notes to guide readers. Students of every level eventually have to tackle this. Appropriate for public and academic libraries. For a true taste of classic drama, Greece is the word, baby! — "Classic Returns," Booksmack! 2/3/11.

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