Seneca Phaedra [Paperback]

Concentrates on the dramatic qualities of Phaedra and examines the Greek and Roman background to the play.Concentrating on the play's dramatic qualities and its Greek and Roman background, this introduction discusses dramaturgy and rhetoric as well as style and textual transmission.Concentrating on the play's dramatic qualities and its Greek and Roman background, this introduction discusses dramaturgy and rhetoric as well as style and textual transmission.Seneca's Phaedra occupies an important and influential position in the tradition of European drama. This new edition concentrates on the play's dramatic qualities, examining its Greek and Roman background. The introduction presents discussion of dramaturgy and rhetoric as well as style and textual transmission. An unusual feature is the tracing of the influence of Phaedra's story on later European literature and music. The commentary has extensive notes not only on Seneca's language, but also on plot, characterization, and the use of myth.Introduction; 1. The life of Seneca; 2. The dating of Seneca's tragedies; 3. The background of the myth; 4. Roman literary influences; 5. Dramatic performances; 6. Rhetorical elements; 7. Aspects of literary craftsmanship; 8. Literary and philosophical interpretation; 9. The manuscripts and the transmission of the text; 10. The influence of Seneca's tragedies and of the Phaedra myth; 11. Metre and prosody; Annaei Senecae Phaedra; Commentary; Appendices; Bibliography; Indexes.