The Oresteia

I am getting ready for the fall semester. I have signed up for classes and am looking at the textbooks I will have to buy. My line up for the fall is a Sociology class, a Philosophy - critical thinking class, English, and a Math class.

Sociology is an introduction. Philosophy will be heavy duty. But my English class is going to focus on The Oresteia by Aeschylus. I was wondering if any one has read it, what they think about it, and if they have any words of caution before I proceed to take all these courses. I am not too familiar with many of the classic tragedies except for Sophocles. If it is a real hard core read then I might reconsider how many and what type of classes I am taking in the fall.

No matter what I am taking the English class, I need it for credits, and I am intrigued by the Oresteia. I am just curious what people know about it.

Thank you in advance.

I read it this past year as a high school freshman. I enjoyed Agamemnon but the two following in the trilogy I did not like at all. Nevertheless they were quite interesting.
I wouldn't want to study them in any more depth, but that's just me ;)

That's what I am thinking though. That since a lot of people probably read it in high school, that my college course might dissect it or something. Thanks for replying though.

The Oresteia is interesting, but it is difficult to get into at first. Either because you get used to Aeschylus or just because they get easier to read, Libation Bearers and Eumenides are more fun to read and discuss.

Pay attention to the Chorus. The Chorus will point out the major themes of the play and give you details that are essential to the story (ex: What happens to Iphigenia when Agamemnon and Menelaus are sailing for Troy). Their speeches are lengthy, but you should still read them. Also, Sparknotes is a good help.

I loved the whole series of The Oresteia. Do you know, by chance, who translated your edition you will read?
Anyway, as Danika suggested, I also recommend to pay a lot of attention to the Chorus. The whole series itself proceeds after the writings of many epics, primarily The Iliad by Homer (a lot about Troy in the plays), and also much information regarding Iphigenia (who you will get referred to a lot), daugher of Agamemnon, and sister to Electra and Orestes; many tales of Iphigenia come from the plays of, one of my personal favorites, Euripides.
Hence, if you end up doing a lot of research on the Oresteia series (three plays in all, I think), I also recommend looking into The Iliad, and, if you want to go the extra mile, on Iphigenia by Euripides.

Thank you very much Danika and Mono.

I thought of picking up sparknotes for it when I buy my book. But I have never really used sparknotes.

The copy I have to buy is the Dover Thrift Edition and it is translated by E.D. Morshead.

Well, I have been planning on reading Homer's Illiad. I have heard of Euripides, but not of his play Iphigenia.

Thank you again very much for your help. I hope I have time to do some reading on these.

After you read Oresteia, you might want to read Euripides' Electra just for fun. It is a parody and absolutely hillarious!

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Originally Posted by Danika_Valin

After you read Oresteia, you might want to read Euripides' Electra just for fun. It is a parody and absolutely hillarious!

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Really??? I had always thought of Electra (both editions - by Euripides and Sophocles) as quite a tragedy, but, indeed, it would also seem worth reading along with Oresteia and Iphigenia.
Happy reading!

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Originally Posted by mono

Really??? I had always thought of Electra (both editions - by Euripides and Sophocles) as quite a tragedy

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Technically, yes, Electra is still a tragedy, but you have to admit that the "recognition scene" and the exchange between the Old Man and Electra is still funny. Especially the part about the footprint.

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Originally Posted by mono

I also recommend looking into The Iliad, and, if you want to go the extra mile, on Iphigenia by Euripides.

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Furthermore, there's a play called Iphigenia in Tauris by Johann W. von Goethe, that I found very very readable as to get an idea of the whole family saga. In case you want to be super-super-prepared and aim to cover the comparative literature on that topic, you may want to give it a try ;)

When I pick up the copy from bn.com, I think I will look into all of these. Thanks.

Guys, I have never used spark notes or cliff notes or whatever they are called, but I went looking around for something like that for the Oresteia, and I have not been able to find anything? Anyone have any ideas where I could find some study guide like that?

http://www.theatrehistory.com/ancient/bates021.html

click "Continue"

that is a pretty good site for summary etc :)

I haven't read this all, but try looking at it, it looks good: linky

Thank you Jay and Logos. This will definitely help.