Greek tragedy

Name: Greek tragedy
Author: Norwood, Gilbert

Norwood, Gilbert

Greek drama (Tragedy) -- History and criticism; Mythology, Greek, in literature

Another celebrated trilogy had for its theme the tale of Troy. The
_Myrmidons_ (Μυρμιδόνες), named from the followers of Achilles who formed
the chorus, dealt with the death of Patroclus. Achilles, withdrawn from
battle because of his quarrel with Agamemnon, is adjured by the chorus
to pity the defeat of the Greeks. He allows Patroclus, his friend, to go
forth against the Trojans. After doing valiantly, Patroclus is slain by
Hector. The news is brought by Antilochus to Achilles, who gives himself
up to passionate lament. This play was a favourite of Aristophanes, who
quotes from it repeatedly. In this drama occurred the celebrated simile
of the eagle struck to death with an arrow winged by his own feathers,
which was cited throughout antiquity and which Byron paraphrased in one
of his most majestic passages.[259] The story was apparently continued
in the _Nereides_ (Νηρηίδες). Achilles determined to revenge Patroclus.
The magic armour made for him by Hephæstus was brought by his mother
Thetis, accompanied by her sisters, the sea-nymphs, daughters of Nereus,
who formed the chorus. The last play was the _Phrygians_ (Φρύγες) or
_Ransom of Hector_ (Ἕκτορος Λύτρα) in which Priam prevailed upon Achilles
to give up the corpse of Hector for burial. It appears likely that in
the two preceding plays Æschylus followed Homer somewhat closely. But in
the _Ransom_ he did not. Besides the detail to which Aristophanes[260]
makes allusion, that Achilles sat for a long time in complete silence,
no doubt while the chorus and Priam offered piteous and lengthy appeals,
there are differences of conception. In Homer, one of the most moving
features of the story is that Priam goes to the Trojan camp practically
alone. He is met by the God Hermes who conducts him to the tent of
Achilles. Then, solitary among his foes, he throws himself upon the mercy
of his son’s destroyer. No such effect was to be found in Æschylus. The
chorus of Phrygians accompanied their king, and we find in a fragment of
Aristophanes[261] a hint of much posturing and stage-managed supplication.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

Greek tragedyNorwood, Gilbert

History

Greek tragedy

Norwood, Gilbert

Greek drama (Tragedy) -- History and criticism; Mythology, Greek, in literature

Another celebrated trilogy had for its theme the tale of Troy. The
_Myrmidons_ (Μυρμιδόνες), named from the followers of Achilles who formed
the chorus, dealt with the death of Patroclus. Achilles, withdrawn from
battle because of his quarrel with Agamemnon, is adjured by the chorus
to pity the defeat of the Greeks. He allows Patroclus, his friend, to go
forth against the Trojans. After doing valiantly, Patroclus is slain by
Hector. The news is brought by Antilochus to Achilles, who gives himself
up to passionate lament. This play was a favourite of Aristophanes, who
quotes from it repeatedly. In this drama occurred the celebrated simile
of the eagle struck to death with an arrow winged by his own feathers,
which was cited throughout antiquity and which Byron paraphrased in one
of his most majestic passages.[259] The story was apparently continued
in the _Nereides_ (Νηρηίδες). Achilles determined to revenge Patroclus.
The magic armour made for him by Hephæstus was brought by his mother
Thetis, accompanied by her sisters, the sea-nymphs, daughters of Nereus,
who formed the chorus. The last play was the _Phrygians_ (Φρύγες) or
_Ransom of Hector_ (Ἕκτορος Λύτρα) in which Priam prevailed upon Achilles
to give up the corpse of Hector for burial. It appears likely that in
the two preceding plays Æschylus followed Homer somewhat closely. But in
the _Ransom_ he did not. Besides the detail to which Aristophanes[260]
makes allusion, that Achilles sat for a long time in complete silence,
no doubt while the chorus and Priam offered piteous and lengthy appeals,
there are differences of conception. In Homer, one of the most moving
features of the story is that Priam goes to the Trojan camp practically
alone. He is met by the God Hermes who conducts him to the tent of
Achilles. Then, solitary among his foes, he throws himself upon the mercy
of his son’s destroyer. No such effect was to be found in Æschylus. The
chorus of Phrygians accompanied their king, and we find in a fragment of
Aristophanes[261] a hint of much posturing and stage-managed supplication.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Greek tragedy

Greek tragedy

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