Literature: Ancient Greek tragedy: Sophocles’ Theban plays

Ancient Greek tragedies have held an enduring interest for audiences and readers since their first performances in Athens in the 5th century BCE. Performed with both ancient and modern settings, revised and adapted, they retain their relevance to human action and understanding. In this course we will study three linked plays by Sophocles that focus on the story of Oedipus, king of Thebes, and his efforts to avoid fate: Oedipus Rex, Oedipus at Colonus and Antigone, together known as the Theban plays.

This course will take a close look at the three plays, considering themes, characters and how (or whether) the plays work together as a trilogy. Through friendly and accessible discussion of extracts from the texts, we will learn more about the plays and their key features. Students will develop a better understanding of their continued popularity and relevance to audiences and readers over the centuries since they were first performed.

While you will get the most from the course by reading the plays in their entirety, short extracts for discussion will be downloadable from Canvas, where links to further reading will also be provided for those who wish to extend their learning. All texts will be studied in English translation: no previous knowledge is assumed.