Studies of the Greek Poets (Vol 2 of 2)

This volume surveys Greek tragic poetry and the development of Attic drama, arguing that social conditions and the Attic audience shaped its form. It emphasizes the doctrine of nemesis and maps stylistic progression from Aeschylus through Sophocles to Euripides, evaluating Euripides' innovations and critical reception. Surviving fragments and lost plays are examined alongside the roles of Alexandrian and Byzantine anthologies and the contingent nature of textual transmission. Close readings underscore recurring themes such as heroism, death, love, justice, noble birth, and stoical endurance, and consider dramatic technique, pathos, and the wider law of artistic progress.