| Summary: | This study of Euripides' Electra approaches the play through the lens of modern linguistics. A variety of modern linguistics theories (conversation analysis, pragmatics, sociolinguistics (on gender and politeness), paroemiology, and discourse studies) are introduced and then applied to the text of the play, with the aim of enhancing literary interpretation. The book has a specific focus on issues of characterization and demonstrates how Euripides shaped his figures through their use of language. In addition, some of the play's major textual issues are tackled using the same linguistic methodology. An introductory chapter treats each of the linguistic approaches used throughout the book and discusses some of the general issues surrounding the play's interpretation. This is followed by chapters on the figures of the Peasant (chapter I), Electra herself (chapter II), and Orestes (chapter III)--in each case showing how these figures' characterization is determined by their speaking style and their 'linguistic behaviour'. The book argues for a balanced interpretation of the main characters, challenging dominant scholarly opinion on this play. Three further chapters focus on textual criticism in stichomythia (chapter IV), on the messenger speech (chapter V), and on the agōn (chapter VI). A conclusion evaluates the linguistic approach adopted and discusses possibilities for further research along these lines.
|
|---|