Who Wrote These Great Tragedies? Quiz

Answer: Euripides

"Medea" is a Greek tragedy written by the playwright Euripides, believed to have been first performed in 431 BCE. It tells the story of Medea, a woman of Colchian origin, who is abandoned by her husband, Jason, after he decides to marry Glauce, the daughter of King Creon of Corinth. Medea feels deeply betrayed by Jason's decision to marry another woman after she helped him secure the Golden Fleece and flee from Colchis. Her intense anger and desire for revenge become central themes of the play.

Despite her emotional turmoil, Medea is portrayed as a cunning and resourceful character. She devises a plan to exact revenge on Jason by killing Glauce and Creon, as well as her own children, in order to inflict maximum suffering upon him. Her tragic flaw, however, is her uncontrollable passion and desire for vengeance. This hubris ultimately leads to her downfall. Despite her intelligence and resourcefulness, her emotions cloud her judgment and drive her to commit horrific acts.

Answer: Euripides

"Iphigenia at Aulis" is a Greek tragedy written by the playwright Euripides. It was first performed around 405 BCE, posthumously, after Euripides' death. The play is set during the Trojan War and centers around the sacrifice of Iphigenia, the daughter of King Agamemnon, at the Greek camp in Aulis.

The Greek fleet, led by Agamemnon, is stalled at the port of Aulis due to unfavorable winds. In order to appease the goddess Artemis and gain her favor for favorable winds, Agamemnon is told by a seer that he must sacrifice his daughter, Iphigenia. The king then faces a moral dilemma as he grapples with the decision to sacrifice his own daughter for the sake of the Greek expedition to Troy. He is torn between his duty as a leader and fatherly love for his daughter.

Despite initial reluctance, Agamemnon ultimately agrees to sacrifice Iphigenia. However, the play portrays various characters' reactions to this decision, including Iphigenia's own acceptance of her fate and her mother Clytemnestra's grief and outrage. Duty, sacrifice, and the consequences of war are some of the central themes of this play.

Answer: Euripides

"The Trojan Women" is a tragedy written by the ancient Greek playwright Euripides. It was first performed in 415 BCE during the Peloponnesian War. The play is set in the aftermath of the Trojan War, after the Greek army has sacked the city of Troy. It focuses on the plight of the women of Troy, particularly Hecuba, the former queen of Troy, and her daughters Cassandra and Andromache.

Throughout the play, Euripides explores themes of war, suffering, and the treatment of women in times of conflict. He portrays the Greek conquerors as cruel and indifferent to the suffering of their victims, highlighting the human cost of war. The play also delves into the psychology of the characters, particularly Hecuba's struggle to maintain her dignity in the face of overwhelming tragedy.

"The Trojan Women" is considered one of Euripides' masterpieces and a powerful indictment of the horrors of war. It has been praised for its poignant portrayal of the suffering of innocent civilians caught up in the chaos of conflict, and it continues to be performed and studied for its enduring relevance to the human condition.

Answer: Euripides

"Hippolytus" is a tragedy written by the ancient Greek playwright Euripides, believed to have been first performed around 428 BCE. The play is based on the mythological figure Hippolytus, the son of Theseus, king of Athens, and either Antiope, queen of the Amazons, or Hippolyta, queen of the Amazons. "Hippolytus" is considered one of Euripides' masterpieces and has been praised for its complex characters, compelling dialogue, and exploration of timeless themes.

The central conflict of the play revolves around Hippolytus and Phaedra, Theseus' wife and Hippolytus' stepmother. Phaedra falls in love with Hippolytus but is consumed by guilt and shame due to her illicit feelings. She ultimately takes her own life but leaves behind a letter accusing Hippolytus of attempting to seduce her. When Theseus returns and reads the letter, he becomes enraged and curses Hippolytus, leading to the young man's banishment and eventual death. In some versions of the myth, Hippolytus is killed by a sea monster after being thrown from his chariot, while in others, he is trampled to death by his own horses.

Throughout the play, Euripides explores themes of love, lust, betrayal, and the destructive power of jealousy. He portrays Phaedra as a tragic figure, torn between her love for Hippolytus and her sense of duty as a wife and mother. Hippolytus, on the other hand, is depicted as a virtuous and honorable young man who becomes the victim of his stepmother's desires and his father's wrath.

Answer: Aeschylus

"The Oresteia" is a trilogy of Greek tragedies written by Aeschylus, one of the three great tragedians of ancient Athens. It is considered one of the masterpieces of Western literature and was first performed in 458 BCE. The trilogy consists of three plays: "Agamemnon", "The Libation Bearers" (also known as "Choephoroi"), and "The Eumenides". At its core, the trilogy explores the transition from a cycle of vengeance and bloodshed to a system of justice and civilization.

The first play in the trilogy, "Agamemnon", centers around the return of King Agamemnon of Argos from the Trojan War. He is greeted with pomp by his wife Clytemnestra. In the meantime, however, she had been plotting his murder in revenge for sacrificing their daughter Iphigenia before the war. Agamemnon is slain by Clytemnestra and her lover, Aegisthus, setting the stage for a cycle of violence and revenge.

The second play continues the story with the return of Agamemnon's son, Orestes, who is urged by the god Apollo to avenge his father's death by killing Clytemnestra and Aegisthus. Orestes struggles with the moral implications of his actions but ultimately carries out the deed with the help of his sister Electra.

The final play in the trilogy depicts Orestes' trial for matricide. The Furies, ancient goddesses of vengeance, pursue Orestes for his crime. He seeks refuge at the temple of Apollo in Delphi. The trial is presided over by Athena who ultimately casts the deciding vote to acquit Orestes. This establishes the principle of trial by jury and thus transforms the Furies into benevolent spirits known as the Eumenides.

Answer: Aeschylus

"Seven Against Thebes" is a Greek tragedy written by Aeschylus, the earliest of the three plays in his "Theban Trilogy." It was first performed in 467 BCE and it renowned for its powerful imagery, vivid language, and dramatic intensity.

The play is set in the city of Thebes, which is under siege by seven champions led by Polynices, the exiled son of King Oedipus, and his brother Eteocles, who rules Thebes. The brothers have agreed to take turns ruling the city, but Eteocles refuses to relinquish the throne to Polynices when his turn comes, leading to a bitter conflict between them.

As the siege begins, the chorus recounts the mythological history of the city and the curse that has plagued the House of Cadmus, the royal family of Thebes. The play culminates in a dramatic confrontation between Polynices and Eteocles, both of whom are killed in the ensuing battle.

"Seven Against Thebes" is notable for its exploration of themes such as fate, destiny, and the consequences of hubris. Aeschylus portrays the conflict between Polynices and Eteocles as the result of divine retribution for the sins of their father, Oedipus, who unknowingly killed his father and married his mother.

Answer: Aeschylus

"The Persians" is a Greek tragedy written by Aeschylus, the earliest of the surviving plays attributed to him. It was first performed in 472 BCE, making it one of the oldest extant Greek dramas. The play is unique in that it is the only surviving Greek tragedy that deals with contemporary historical events rather than mythical or legendary subjects.

"The Persians" is set in the Persian capital of Susa and depicts the aftermath of the Battle of Salamis, which took place in 480 BCE during the Greco-Persian Wars. The play begins with the chorus of elderly Persian elders lamenting the disastrous defeat of the Persian army at Salamis and mourning the loss of their king, Xerxes, who led the failed invasion of Greece.

As the play unfolds, the ghost of King Darius, Xerxes's father, appears and offers counsel to the Persians, urging them to accept their defeat with humility and wisdom. The play concludes with the arrival of a messenger who confirms the Persian defeat and describes the destruction of Xerxes's fleet at Salamis.

"The Persians" is notable for its sympathetic portrayal of the defeated Persians and its exploration of themes such as hubris, fate, and the consequences of imperial ambition. Aeschylus portrays the Persians not as villainous aggressors but as tragic figures who suffer the consequences of their pride and arrogance. It also offers a cautionary tale about the dangers of overreach and the importance of humility in the face of adversity.

Answer: Aeschylus

"Prometheus Bound" is a Greek tragedy attributed to Aeschylus, one of the great tragedians of ancient Athens, although some scholars debate its authorship. It is believed to have been first performed around 430 BCE as part of a trilogy that included "Prometheus Unbound" and "Prometheus the Fire-Bearer". Only "Prometheus Bound" has survived in its entirety.

The play tells the story of Prometheus, a Titan who defies the king of the gods, Zeus, by giving fire to humanity and teaching them various arts and sciences. As punishment for his rebellion, Zeus orders Prometheus to be bound to a rock in the Caucasus Mountains, where he will suffer for eternity as an eagle eats his liver every day, only for it to regenerate overnight.

"Prometheus Bound" unfolds as Prometheus is visited by various characters, including Oceanus, a fellow Titan who urges him to submit to Zeus and beg for forgiveness, and Io, a mortal woman who has been transformed into a cow and tormented by Hera, Zeus's wife. Despite his suffering, Prometheus remains defiant and refuses to yield to Zeus, even when offered the chance to be released if he reveals a secret that could threaten Zeus's power.

"Prometheus Bound" is renowned for its vivid imagery, powerful language, and philosophical depth. It has been admired for its exploration of timeless themes of rebellion, punishment, and resistance, and the struggle between fate and free will.

Answer: Sophocles

"Oedipus Rex" is a Greek tragedy written by Sophocles around 429 BCE. "Rex" referring to the kingship that Oedipus takes on. It is considered one of the greatest works of Western literature and is often cited as a paradigm of classical tragedy. The play is renowned for its dramatic tension, psychological depth, and intricate plot structure. It has been widely studied and performed for centuries and continues to be a staple of the theatrical canon. "Oedipus Rex" is a powerful and timeless exploration of the human condition and the complexities of fate and destiny.

The play opens with the city of Thebes plagued by a mysterious plague, and Oedipus, determined to save his people, seeks the advice of the blind prophet Tiresias. Tiresias reveals that the plague is a punishment for the murderer of the previous king of Thebes, Laius, and that the murderer is still within the city.

As Oedipus investigates further, he discovers that he himself is the unwitting perpetrator of the crime. He learns that he is the son of Laius and Jocasta, the queen of Thebes, and that he fulfilled a prophecy by unknowingly killing his father and marrying his mother. Horrified by this revelation, Jocasta kills herself, and Oedipus blinds himself in a fit of despair.

"Oedipus Rex" explores themes of fate, free will, hubris, and the limits of human knowledge. Sophocles portrays Oedipus as a tragic hero, a man of noble birth who is destined to suffer a reversal of fortune because of a tragic flaw in his character. Oedipus's ultimate fate is sealed by his own actions, however, he also serves as a symbol of the fragility of human existence and the unpredictability of the gods.

Answer: Sophocles

"Philoctetes" is a tragedy written by the ancient Greek playwright Sophocles, believed to have been first performed around 409 BCE. The play is based on the mythological figure of Philoctetes, a Greek hero who was abandoned on the island of Lemnos by his fellow Greeks during the Trojan War because of a festering wound on his foot. "Philoctetes" explores themes of betrayal, redemption, and the transformative power of compassion.

The central conflict of the play revolves around the efforts of Odysseus and Neoptolemus, the son of Achilles, to persuade Philoctetes to rejoin the Greek expedition to Troy. The Greeks have learned from an oracle that they cannot capture Troy without the bow and arrows of Heracles, which are in Philoctetes' possession. Odysseus and Neoptolemus arrive on the island with a plan to trick or coerce Philoctetes into relinquishing the bow.

However, as the play unfolds, Neoptolemus begins to sympathize with Philoctetes and questions the morality of deceiving him. He ultimately decides to honor the hero's wishes and returns the bow to him, earning Philoctetes' trust and friendship in the process. Philoctetes agrees to accompany Neoptolemus to Troy, where he plays a crucial role in the Greek victory.

Answer: Sophocles

"Antigone" is a Greek tragedy written by Sophocles around 441 BCE. It is the third play in Sophocles' Theban trilogy, following "Oedipus Rex" and "Oedipus at Colonus". Nevertheless, it was written first in terms of the chronological events depicted in the plays.

The play revolves around the conflict between Antigone, the daughter of Oedipus, and Creon, the king of Thebes. After Oedipus's death, his two sons, Eteocles and Polynices, fought for control of Thebes. Both brothers died in battle, and Creon, the new king, decrees that Eteocles will be honored with a proper burial, while Polynices will be left unburied as punishment for his betrayal of Thebes.

Antigone, driven by familial duty and religious obligation, defies Creon's edict and buries her brother Polynices. She believes it is her sacred duty to honor the dead and uphold the laws of the gods, even if it means defying the laws of man. When Creon discovers Antigone's actions, he condemns her to death, setting the stage for a tragic confrontation between individual conscience and state authority.

As the play unfolds, Sophocles explores themes of moral responsibility, divine law versus human law, and the consequences of hubris. Both Antigone and Creon are portrayed as tragic figures, each adhering steadfastly to their principles but ultimately leading to their own downfall. Antigone represents the unwavering commitment to personal integrity and familial duty, while Creon embodies the dangers of unchecked power and pride.

Answer: Sophocles

"Ajax" is a Greek tragedy written by the playwright Sophocles, believed to have been first performed around 440 BCE. The play is based on the mythological figure Ajax, a Greek hero known for his strength and valor during the Trojan War. The play explores the character of Ajax, a mighty warrior who becomes consumed by his own pride, or hubris. After Achilles' death, Ajax believes he deserves the armor of the fallen hero, but when it is awarded to Odysseus instead, Ajax is driven to madness and vows to seek revenge.

In his madness, Ajax goes on a rampage, intending to kill the Greek leaders, including Agamemnon and Menelaus. However, Athena intervenes and clouds his vision, leading Ajax to mistakenly slaughter a herd of sheep, believing them to be his enemies. When Ajax regains his senses and realizes what he has done, he is overcome with shame and guilt.

Unable to bear the disgrace of his actions and the loss of honor, Ajax decides to take his own life. He does so by falling on his own sword, committing suicide. His death is a tragic end to a once-great hero, brought low by his own pride and the machinations of the gods. Odysseus, recognizing the tragic consequences of Ajax's pride, persuades Agamemnon to allow Ajax to receive a proper burial, despite his earlier betrayal.