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SECOND PUBLIC EXAMINATION

Honour School of Literae Humaniores

506

Honour School of Classics and English

506

Honour School of Classics and Oriental Studies

506

GREEK TRAGEDY

TRINITY TERM 2018

Friday 25 May, 2.30 pm – 5.30 pm

Candidates are required to attempt QUESTIONS 1 and 2, and TWO others.

They should show knowledge of beta as well as alpha texts.

Marking scheme: 16⅔% for translation in Question 1, and 16⅔% for each of the
commentaries in Question 2; and 25% for each essay.

Do not turn over until told that you may do so.

1
1. TRANSLATE the following passage into English:

(AESCHYLUS, Agamemnon 587-605)

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2. WITHOUT TRANSLATING, comment on TWO of the following passages,
indicating the context:

(a)

(AESCHYLUS, Agamemnon 1617-35)

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(b)

(SOPHOCLES, Oedipus Tyrannus 964-83)

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(c)

(EURIPIDES, Medea 623-44)

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3. What dramatic use do tragedians make of the concept of inherited guilt?

4. What role does humour play in Greek tragedy?

5. What significance do closing scenes in Greek tragedy have for the interpretation of
individual plays?

6. Should Greek tragedy be read as a tribute to the progress embodied in Athenian

democracy?

7. How do tragedians use imagery related to the sea?

8. Can we infer anything about changes in acting from the developments that can be
observed in tragedy over the course of the fifth century?

9. Can ancient literary criticism help us to understand Greek tragedy better?

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