Greek Tragedy in Action

Oliver Taplin's seminal study was revolutionary in drawing out the significance of stage action in Greek tragedy at a time when plays were often read purely as texts, rather than understood as performances. Professor Taplin explores nine plays, including Aeschylus' "agamemnon" and Sophocles' "Oedipus the King." The details of theatrical techniques and stage directions, used by playwrights to highlight key moments, are drawn out and related to the meaning of each play as a whole. With extensive translated quotations, the essential unity of action and speech in Greek tragedy is demonstrated.Now firmly established as a classic text, "Greek Tragedy in Action" is even more relevant today, when performances of Greek tragedies and plays inspired by them have had such an extraordinary revival around the world.Oliver Taplin is the author of 'Greek Tragedy in Action', published 1994 under ISBN 9780415043120 and ISBN 0415043123.