AESCHYLUS

BIBLIOGRAPHY (for titles in CAPS, see Comments at the end)

Armstrong, D. and E. A. Ratchford, "Iphigenia's Veil: Aeschylus, Agamemnon 228-48," BICS 32 (1985) 1-12 .
Buxton, R. G. A. PERSUASION IN GREEK TRAGEDY: A STUDY OF PEITHO, 
    Cambridge UP, 1982.
Conacher, D. J. AESCHYLUS' ORESTEIA: A LITERARY COMMENTARY, 
    Toronto:University of Toronto Press, 1987. 
Conacher, D. J. Aeschylus' Prometheus bound: a Literary Commentary,
   Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1980.
Euben, J. Peter. THE TRAGEDY OF POLITICAL THEORY: THE ROAD NOT TAKEN, 
    Princeton UP, 1990. 
Fagles, Robert and W. B. Stanford. "THE SERPENT AND THE EAGLE," in 
    Aeschylus. THE ORESTEIA. Trans. Fagles. New York: Viking Penguin, 1979, pp. 13-97. 
Finley, John H. PINDAR AND AESCHYLUS,  Martin Classical Lectures 14.
   Cambridge:  Harvard UP, 1966.
Gagarin, Michael. AESCHYLEAN DRAMA,  Univ California Pr, 1976. 
Goldhill, Simon, Aeschylus: The Oresteia, Cambridge UP, 1992.
    Harvard UP, 1966. See "The ORESTEIA," pp. 246-288.
Goldhill, Simon. Language, Sexuality, Narrative, the Oresteia,
    Cambridge U P, 1984.
Goldhill, Simon. READING GREEK TRAGEDY, Cambridge UP, 1986 
Griffith, Mark. The Authenticity of Prometheus Bound, Cambridge UP, 1977.
Griffith, M. (1995) "Brilliant Dynasts: Power and Politics in the Oresteia. "CA 14: 62-129 
Herington, C. J. Aeschylus,  Hermes Books. New Haven: Yale UP, 1986.
Hogan, James C. A COMMENTARY ON THE COMPLETE GREEK TRAGEDIES: AESCHYLUS, 
    University of Chicago Pr, 1984
Ireland, S. "AESCHYLUS." in GREECE AND ROME. New Surveys in the Classics # 18. 
    Oxford UP, 1986. 
Lebeck, A. The Oresteia: a Study in Language and Structure, 
    Harvard UP 1971.
Lesky, Albin. A History of Greek Literature,  NY, Crowell, 1966.
Lloyd-Jones, Hugh. "THE GUILT OF AGAMEMNON," in GREEK TRAGEDY: MODERN 
ESSAYS IN CRITICISM,  Erich Segal.(ed).  Harper & Row, 1983. 
Lloyd-Jones,  Hugh, "Erinyes, Semnai Theai, Eumenides," in 
   Owls to Athens. Essays on Classical Subjects in Honor of Sir Kenneth Dover.
    ed. by E. M. Craik (1990) 203-211
McCall, Marsh, ed., Aeschylus, A Collection of Critical Essays (1972) 
Michelini, Ann M. Tradition and Dramatic form in the Persians of Aeschylus. 
    Cincinnati Classical Studies. Leiden: Brill, 1982.
Murray, Gilbert, Aeschylus, the Creator of Tragedy,  1940; repr. 1978.
Otis, Brooks. COSMOS AND TRAGEDY: AN ESSAY ON THE MEANING OF AESCHYLUS, 
    Ed. with notes/ preface by E. Christian Kopff. Univ of North Carolina Pr, 1981.
Podlecki, Anthony J. THE POLITICAL BACKGROUND OF AESCHYLEAN TRAGEDY,
    Univ of Michigan Pr, 1966. See esp "ORESTEIA," pp. 63-100.
Podlecki, Anthony J.,  "Aeschylus' Women," Helios 10 (1983) 23-47 
Prag, A. J. N. W. The Oresteia: Iconographic and Narrative Tradition,
    Chicago: Bolchazy Carducci, 1985.
Radt, Stefan. Aeschylus. Tragicorum Graecorum Fragmenta. Ed. Bruno Snell. 
    Goettingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1985.
Rose, A.R.,"The Significance of the Nurse's Speech in Aeschylus' Choephoroi," CB 58 (1982) 49-50.
Rosenbloom, D (1995) "Myth, Memory, and Hegemony in Aeschylus." in 
   B. Goff ed. History, Tragedy, Theory, U of Texas (91-130). 
Rosenmeyer, Thomas. THE ART OF AESCHYLUS, Univ of California Pr, 1982. 
Scott, William C. Musical Design in Aeschylean Theater,  Univ Pr of New England, 1984.
Sheppard, J.T., Aeschylus & Sophocles (Ares 1963) Sem Libr PA3829.S45 
Smith, Peter M. On the Hymn to Zeus in Aeschylus' Agamemnon,  Scholars Press, 1980.
Smyth, Herbert W., Aeschylean Tragedy (1924; repr. 1969)
Spatz, Lois. Aeschylus, Twayne World Authors Series. Boston: Twayne, 1982.
Taplin, Oliver. The Stagecraft of Aeschylus,  Oxford UP, 1977.
Thalman, William G. Dramatic Art in Aeschylus' Seven Against Thebes,  Yale UP, 1978.
Thomson, G., Aeschylus and Athens,  1940; repr. 1969. 
Tyrrell, Wm. Blake. "ZEUS & AGAMEMNON AT AULIS." in
    CLASSICAL JOURNAL, 71 (1976), 328-334. 
Vellacott, Philip. THE LOGIC OF TRAGEDY: 
    MORALS AND INTEGRITY IN AESCHYLUS' ORESTEIA,   Duke UP, 1984. 
Vidal-Naquer, P. "HUNTING & SACRIFICE IN AESCHYLUS' ORESTEIA." in 
    TRAGEDY AND MYTH IN ANCIENT GREECE,  NY, Zone Books, 1990. 
Winnington-Ingram, R. P. Studies in Aeschylus, Cambridge UP, 1983.
Zeitlin, Froma I. "The Dynamics of Misogyny: Myth and Myth-making in the Oresteia." 
    Arethusa 11 (1978)
Zeitlin, Froma I. "Under the Sign of the Shield: Semiotics and Aeschylus' Seven Against Thebes". 
    Filologia e Critica. Roma: Edizioni dell' Ateneo, 1982.

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Comments on some of the above books:

Buxton, R. G. A. PERSUASION IN GREEK TRAGEDY: A STUDY OF PEITHO. 
   In his introduction Buxton defines peitho and examines its significance for 
understanding Greek thought. The section on Aischylos (pp. 67-114) notes the 
absence of "true" peitho in AGAMEMNON and the LIBATION BEARERS, but its 
emergence in the EUMENIDES as a healing force. 

Conacher, D. J. AESCHYLUS' ORESTEIA: A LITERARY COMMENTARY. 
   Conacher's work provides a close reading of the text and a dramatic analysis of the 
plays, episode by episode, chorus by chorus. The study is intended to provide 
serious readers of Greek tragedy in translation with a sense of the text and an 
introduction to some of the thornier problems in interpreting the ORESTEIA. 

Euben, J. Peter. THE TRAGEDY OF POLITICAL THEORY: THE ROAD NOT 
TAKEN.  See "Justice and the ORESTEIA," pp. 67-95. 
   As the title of the chapter on the ORESTEIA indicates, Euben's focus is on the 
significance of justice and on the development of political language. He views 
tragedy as a public institution which, therefore, plays an important, role in the 
public view of justice. What Athena does in the EUMENIDES, Aeschylus does, 
according to Euben, for the polls through the play. Therefore, both might be 
considered as teachers or examples of political justice. 

Fagles, Robert and W. B. Stanford. "The Serpent and The Eagle," 
Aeschylus. THE ORESTEIA. Trans. Fagles. pp. 13-97. 
   This is the introductory essay in the text. While it is an excellent critical study 
of the trilogy, it is not a true introduction. In fact, it is best read after 
one has read the plays. 

Finley, John H. PINDAR AND AESCHYLUS. Martin Classical Lectures 14. 
See "The ORESTEIA," pp. 246-288. 
   In a discussion that follows closely the order of events in the plays, Finley argues 
that the characters are conceived and presented symbolically. He also focuses on 
the significance of the family and asserts that ultimately the EUMENIDES sets forth 
a positive view of justice by including the family in a "free community of law and 
reason." (p. 280) 

Gagarin, Michael. AESCHYLEAN DRAMA. 
   Gagarin's study includes two important chapters on the ORESTEIA in which he 
discusses "the ethical pattern" of the trilogy and the "sexual and political conflict." 
He argues for the central importance of the family and the crucial need for justice in 
the family as well as in the state. The resolution of sexual and political conflicts is 
linked also to the need to re-establish balance. 

Goldhill, Simon. READING GREEK TRAGEDY.  See especially pp. 1-56. 
   Goldhill provides a structuralist analysis of the ORESTEIA in which he focuses 
first on communication and on language and its social role (pp. 1-32) and, second, 
on the shifting meanings of Dike (justice) (pp. 33-56). 

Hogan, James C. A COMMENTARY ON THE COMPLETE GREEK TRAGEDIES: 
AESCHYLUS.
   Hogan's commentary is similar to that of Connacher in purpose and method, but it is 
much less thorough because he deals with all of Aeschylus' plays. It is still a most 
helpful work for I those who wish to enhance their understanding of the Greek text. 
He clarifies mythical allusions, symbolism, and contemporary political, historical, 
and religious references. 

Ireland, S. "Aeschylus." GREECE AND ROME. New Surveys in the Classics # 18.
   This work provides an introduction to important areas of scholarship in Aeschylean 
drama. It includes biographical material, overviews of the plays, and comprehensive 
bibliographies. Ireland also emphasizes that there is no one accepted reading of the 
ORESTEIA. 

Lloyd-Jones, Hugh. "The Guilt of Agamemnon," GREEK TRAGEDY: MODERN 
ESSAYS IN CRITICISM. 
   Lloyd-Jones' article deals with Agamemnon, the nature of Zeus, and with the impact 
of the familial curse on Agamemnon's actions. 

Otis, Brooks. COSMOS AND TRAGEDY: AN ESSAY ON THE MEANING OF 
AESCHYLUS. 
   Otis develops a discussion of the moral and theological issues created in and by the 
ORESTEIA. He focuses on the questions of guilt, retribution, and justice (human and 
divine) and argues that the trilogy reveals an evolutionary development from a 
primitive form of justice to a more civilized form as exemplified by the Areopagus, 
the court representing the polls. 

Podlecki, Anthony J. THE POLITICAL BACKGROUND OF AESCHYLEAN 
TRAGEDY.  See especially "ORESTEIA," pp. 63-100. 
   Podlecki argues that Aeschylean tragedy reflects Aeschylus ' political concerns and 
that, therefore, the most significant aspect of the trilogy is its major theme, dike 
(justice) and its relation to the democracy through the establishment and workings of a 
legal system or law. 

Rosenmeyer, Thomas. THE ART OF AESCHYLUS. 
   Rosenmeyer does not discuss the plays individually, but he deals with the whole of 
Aeschylean drama thematically. His study provides background on Aeschylus, the 
transmission of the text, and performance. He then analyzes the style of Aeschylean 
verse and the speeches. The last three sections deal with the characters, the 
relationship between man and the divine, and finally with aspects of the drama 
including plot. and dramatic tension. 

Tyrrell, Wm. Blake. "Zeus and Agamemnon at Aulis." CLASSICAL JOURNAL, 71 (1976), 328-334. 
   Tyrrell sees the decision at Aulis as representing a crucial moment when mythically 
man, animal, and god (Zeus) were differentiated to the point where man must assume 
responsibility for his own actions. 

Vellacott, Philip. THE LOGIC OF TRAGEDY: MORALS AND INTEGRITY IN 
AESCHYLUS' ORESTEIA. 
   Vellacott proposes "integrity" as an important quality in the tragic hero and insists, in 
fact, that a hero cannot be considered tragic if he/she does not demonstrate "integrity." 
Vellacott also argues the importance of justice, reconciliation, and resolution, but he 
asserts that these "goods" are not necessarily achieved in the ORESTEIA. 

Vidal-Naquer, P. "Hunting and Sacrifice in Aeschylus' ORESTEIA." in
Vernant & Vidal-Naquet. TRAGEDY AND MYTH IN ANCIENT GREECE. 
   Vidal-Naquet emphasizes the importance of the link between hunting and sacrifice and 
argues that the animal imagery is reconciled in the blending of the wild and the 
civilized in the EUMENIDES.

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