Electra and the Empty Urn: Metatheater and Role Playing in Sophocles

Ringer, Mark

ISBN 10: 080784697X / ISBN 13: 9780807846971

Verlag: University of North Carolina Pre, 1998

Good paperback, bumped/creased with shelfwear; may have previous owner's name inside. Standard-sized. Bestandsnummer des Verkäufers mon0000309540

Inhaltsangabe:

Metatheater, or "theater within theater," is a critical approach often used in studies of Shakespearian or modern drama. Breaking new ground in the study of ancient Greek tragedy, Mark Ringer applies the concept of metatheatricality to the work of Sophocles. His innovative analysis sheds light on Sophocles' technical ingenuity and reveals previously unrecognized facets of fifth-century performative irony.

Ringer analyzes the layers of theatrical self-awareness in all seven Sophoclean tragedies, giving special attention to Electra, the playwright's most metatheatrical work. He focuses on plays within plays, characters who appear to be in rivalry with their playwright in "scripting" their dramas, and the various roles that characters assume in their attempts to deceive other characters or even themselves.

Ringer also examines instances of literal role playing, exploring the implications of the Greek convention of sharing multiple roles among only three actors.

Sophocles has long been praised as one of the masters of dramatic irony. Awareness of Sophoclean metatheater, Ringer shows, deepens our appreciation of that irony and reveals the playwright's keen awareness of his art.

Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor: Mark Ringer is assistant professor of theater history and literature at Denison University. He has also worked extensively as an actor, director, dramaturg, and critic in the United States and Europe.&27;

Bibliografische Details

Titel: Electra and the Empty Urn: Metatheater and ...
Verlag: University of North Carolina Pre
Erscheinungsdatum: 1998
Einband: Paperback
Zustand: Good