From my early beginnings as a young introvert, the public library has always been a bit of a refuge. Years later, not much has changed, albeit with an additional affinity for endless hours spent scouring second-hand bookstores to add to my ever-growing “to-read” pile.
From one bookworm to another, this column will be underscoring and outlining various literary genres, authors, and recent reads and can serve as an introduction for those unfamiliar with these works, as a refresher for long-time aficionados, and maybe as an inspiration for readers to share their own suggested topics. Do you have a topic that you would like covered in this column? Feel free to contact me for an interview and a feature in an upcoming column.
Who
This week, we take a look at a well-known topic in literature, namely Ancient Greek tragedies. Popular playwrights include Sophocles, Aeschylus, and Euripides.
Ancient Greek tragedies were “a popular and influential form of drama performed in theatres across ancient Greece from the late 6th century BCE.” Often, these types of plays were “performed in open-air theatres.”
What
Examples of Ancient Greek tragedies include Oedipus Rex by Sophocles, Electra by Sophocles, Prometheus Bound by Aeschylus, and Medea by Euripides.
Where
These plays are set throughout the Ancient Greek world.
When
These works are set mainly during the 6 century BCE.
Why
Ancient Greek plays may be of interest to AU students who would like to learn more about the origins of Western drama, as well as classical Greek history. In addition, these works may be interesting to students in the ENGL and HIST programs.
How
AU’s wide range of diverse courses make it easy to study this topic in depth. Courses related to Ancient Greek tragedies are available in a variety of disciplines, including one’s that may fit into your Degree Works. (Always check with an AU counsellor to see if these particular courses fulfill your personal graduation requirements!)
AU students interested in learning more about this topic may enroll in ENGL 303: A History of Drama – Part I: Early Stages, senior-level, three-credit course, which “ traces the history of Western theatre from its Greek origins to the beginning of the eighteenth century in England and France, with specific references to the plays in a core anthology, The Wadsworth Anthology of Drama.” (Please note that this course requires several prerequisites, including ENGL 211: Prose Forms and ENGL 212: Poetry and Plays).
In addition, for a more historical approach, students may enroll in CLAS 309: Ancient Greece, a senior-level, three-credit course, which “briefly examines the mysterious Bronze Age civilizations and their fall, and the achievements of the Archaic Age.” (Although no prerequisites are required, HIST 201: Western Thought and Culture I: Before the Reformation is recommended). Happy reading!