Since it was first performed in Athens in the 420s BC, Oedipus the King has been widely regarded as Sophocles' greatest tragedy and one of the foundation stones of western drama. Taken as a model by Aristotle in his Poetics, it became a yardstick for future generations. Since the play's rediscovery in the Renaissance, audiences - including Sigmund Freud - have found new interpretations and meanings in Sophocles' portrayal of the Theban king, inexorably pursuing the truth, only to discover that he has killed his father and married his mother. This translation by Don Taylor, accurate yet poetic, was made for a BBC TV production of the Theban Plays in 1986, which he also directed. Commentary and notes by Angie Varakis.

A Student Edition with a full commentary, plot synopsis, review of the play in performance, chronology, notes on individual words and phrases and questions for further study A set text for the WJEC Drama and Theatre GCE 2007 (Module: Texts in Context); WJEC English Literature GCE 2009 (Module: Shakespeare and Poetry in Context); and CCEA English Literature GCE (Module: Drama) Timed to coincide with a new production of Oedipus the King at the National Theatre, with Ralph Fiennes in the lead role, which will then tour in autumn 2008 The perfect edition for students of Drama, Literature and Classics, featuring introductory and study material Presented in Don Taylor's acclaimed translation that has a timeless appeal and was made for a BBC TV production of the Theban Plays in 1986

About the Author
Sophocles (496-406 BC) lived through the greater part of the long struggle with Sparta and died a few months after Euripides. He is credited with developing the tragic form and his surviving tragedies are masterpieces of construction. Methuen Drama publishes two volumes of his plays.


Book Information
ISBN 9780713686760
Author Sophocles
Format Paperback
Page Count 128
Imprint Methuen Drama
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Weight(grams) 118g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 129mm * 8mm