He attended amherst college, graduating in 1955 with a bachelor of arts degree. Towering over the rest of greek tragedy, the three plays that tell the story of the fated theban royal. Now, with this stunning modern verse translation, fagles has reintroduced virgils aeneid to a whole new generation, and completed the classical triptych at the heart of western. It is known by a variety of titles the most common being oedipus rex. The oedipus plays are plays by sophocles that were first performed in 429 bc. To laius, king of thebes, an oracle foretold that the child born. Oedipus rex is in the book three theban plays along with antigone, oedipus the king oedipus rex, and oedipus at colonus. Listen to oedipus rex storr translation by sophocles at. It was the second of sophocless three theban plays to be produced, but it comes first in the internal chronology, followed by oedipus at colonus and then antigone. Similar to my aeschylus readings, i picked up the robert fagles translation.
Radio play with lucy gutteridge and patrick stewart, from cassette 19850217. Oedipus the king sophocles translated by robert fagles focus a terrible plague has struck the city of thebes. Digital pdf of the best translation of the odyssey by robert fagles, which well read in class. This particular edition was rendered by robert fagles, perhaps the best translator of the greek classics into english. Many cities of men he saw and learned their minds, many pains he suffered, heartsick on the open sea. May 19, 2011 oedipus rex is the greatest of the greek tragedies, a profound meditation on the human condition. This penguin classics edition is translated by robert fagles with introductions and notes by bernard knox. Mar 26, 2008 fagles was born in philadelphia, pennsylvania, the son of charles fagles, a lawyer, and vera voynow fagles, an architect. The three theban playsintroduction to antigone antigone. Fagles and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Plants, animals, and people are dying in great numbers. As you read, look for details that help you form impressions of oedipus as a leader.
Acknowledgments translators preface greece and the theater. Fagles was born in philadelphia, pennsylvania, the son of charles fagles, a lawyer, and vera voynow fagles, an architect. Oedipus rex oedipus the king by sophocles on free audio. Antigone, oedipus rex, oedipus at colonus sparknotes literature guide volume 50 sparknotes literature guide series by sparknotes and sophocles feb 4, 2014 4. Highly recommendedaudio book playlist of the odyssey, translated by robert fagles, read by sir ian mckellan gandalf from lord of the.
Buy the three theban plays penguin classics reprint by sophocles, robert fagles, bernard macgregor walker knox isbn. The priests of the city seek help from oedipus, their king. Collected here are antigone, oedipus the king and oedipus at colonus, in a. Oedipus rex summary from litcharts the creators of. The story of the mythological king, who is doomed to kill his father and marry his mother, has resonated in world culture for almost 2,500 years. Oedipus tyrannus oedipus the king is not only the most read of all the greek tragedies, it is also the most misread of the greek dramas. Collected here are antigone, oedipus the king and oedipus at colonus, in a translation by robert fagles which retains all of sophocles lucidity and power. Oedipus the king text fagles translation hcc learning web. To truly complete your journey with sophocles, you will need to also check out oedipus at colonus.
Read a plot overview of the entire play or a scene by scene summary and analysis. Antigone, oedipus the king, oedipus at colonus by robert translator sophocles. Sophocles, the three theban plays, translated by robert fagles. Feb 08, 2015 this is the complete collection of my previous videos. Translator robert fagles traces the logic antigone uses to the histories of herodotus, in a story of a persian woman who saves her brother rather than her husband or children. Notes the oedipus rex, without argument one of the greatest plays ever written in any language, is also one of the most complex. It was the second of sophocless three theban plays to be produced. The three playsantigone, oedipus the king, and oedipus at colonusare not strictly a trilogy, but all are based on the theban myths that were old even in sophocles time. In the video, youll discover about the riddle of the. Oedipus the king, oedipus at colonus antigone8 mar 2006. Note that in citations there should be a hanging indent.
Oedipus the king pdf robert fagles portions of this new version of oedipus the king appeared originally in. Tumblr is a place to express yourself, discover yourself, and bond over the stuff you love. Audio book playlist of the odyssey, translated by robert fagles. Scholars have spent millennia debating sophocles intentions and how he.
His translations of both the iliad and odyssey have sold hundreds of thousands of copies and have become the standard translations of our era. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while. Oedipus rex, by sophocles, is a tragedy that has been enjoyed for centuries. This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of. The plays reputation exists in part because it was presented as the paragon of the dramatic form by aristotle in his poetics, and it may well be because of that fact that oedipus tryannus was one of the relatively few plays by sophocles to be.
As the argument escalates, oedipus accuses tiresias of plotting with creon to overthrow him, while tiresias hints at other terrible things that oedipus has done. Her books include the play of character in platos dialog. Both are a part of the same trilogy, and they are arguably the most important parts of the trilogy. Its where your interests connect you with your people. The oedipus plays amazonclassics edition and millions of other books are available for instant access. Introduction to oedipus at colonus oedipus at colonus. Book i athena inspires the prince sing to me of the man, muse, the man of twists and turns driven time and again off course, once he had plundered the hallowed heights of troy. Jan 12, 2019 oedipus rex is a tragedy written in ancient greece by sophocles and its a classic greek myth.
Homer the odyssey translated by robert fagles book i athena inspires the prince sing to me of the man, muse, the man of twists and turns. Oedipus the king text fagles translation to print or download this file, click the link below. Antigone, oedipus the king, oedipus at colonus sophocles. Mar 11, 2020 this penguin classics edition is translated by robert fagles with introductions and notes by bernard knox. Oedipus rex, also known by its greek title, oedipus tyrannus ancient greek. She has published widely on greek literature and philosophy, and the reception of myth in popular culture. Fagles was born in philadelphia, pennsylvania, the son of. Antigone by sophocles translated by robert fagles 1985 youtube. Antigone by sophocles translated by robert fagles 1985 duration. His translations of both the iliad and odyssey have sold hundreds of thousands of copies and have become the standard translations of our. Sophocles theban play cycle, antigone, oedipus rex and oedipus at colonus. Oedipus the king often known by the latin title oedipus rex is an athenian tragedy by sophocles that was first performed c. Many cities of men he saw and learned their minds, many pains he suffered, heartsick on the open sea, fighting to save. In the video, youll discover about the riddle of the sphinx and of course, learn a vital tale of.
Sophocles theban play cycle, antigone, oedipus rex and. It was the second in order of sophocless composition. One of the most widely read of all greek tragedies, oedipus rex, stands as one of not only the greatest dramas from classical antiquity but as one of the greatest dramas of all time. Ive read antigone twice, once the robert fagles translation, twice in this. Jan 01, 2017 oedipus the king often known by the latin title oedipus rex is an athenian tragedy by sophocles that was first performed c. It was the second of sophocless three theban plays to. Thus begins the stirring story of the trojan war and the rage of achilles that has gripped listeners and readers for 2,700 years. The iliad is a timeless poem that still vividly conveys the horror and heroism of men and gods wrestling with towering emotions and battling amidst devastation and destruction, as it moves inexorably to its wrenching, tragic conclusion. Oedipus rex summary from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. Over the centuries, it has come to be regarded by many as the greek tragedy par excellence. It was the second of sophocless three theban plays to be. The first drama in the oedipus trilogy, oedipus rex, is the tragic tale of oedipus who has accidentally killed his father and married his mother.
Oedipus rex is in the book three theban plays along with antigone, oedipus the kingoedipus rex. Oedipus rex is a tragedy written in ancient greece by sophocles and its a classic greek myth. The publication of a new translation by fagles is a literary event. If the iliad is the worlds greatest war epic, the odyssey is literatures grandest evocation of an everymans journey through life. Buy the three theban plays penguin classics book online at. Ruby blondell is professor of classics at the university of washington in seattle. So when in time a son was born the infants feet were riveted together.
So begins robert fagles magnificent translation of the. A dolls house 1879, is a masterpiece of theatrical craft which, for the first time portrayed the tragic hypocrisy of victorian middle class marriage on the stage. This drama is an absolute must for any scholar, student, drama lover, or classical literature fan. Oedipus accuses tiresias of playing a part in laiuss death. The heroic greek dramas that have moved theatergoers and readers since the fifth century b. Tiresias grows angry and says that oedipus is the cause of the plaguehe is the murderer of laius. The iliad is a timeless poem that still vividly conveys the horror and heroism of. Book i athena inspires the prince sing to me of the man, muse, the man of twists and turns driven time and again off course, once he had plundered the. Antigone by sophocles translated by robert fagles 1985. Oedipus rex robert fagles pdf oedipus rex robert fagles pdf download. Robert fagles translation, twice in this one, and oedipus rex twice. The three theban plays sophocles translated by robert fagles with introductions and notes by bernard knox. If you are looking to experience the most popular works of sophocles, look no.