Overview

This is a study of the agon, or formal debate, in Euripides' tragedies. In these scenes, two characters confront each other, sometimes before an arbitrator or judge, and make long speeches as if they were opponents in a lawcourt.An agon is to be found in most of Euripides' extant plays, and is often of crucial importance in representing the central conflict of the play. Many of Euripides' most characteristic features are to be found in these scenes - including rhetorical skill, brilliance in argument, and interest in philosophy. Michael Lloyd offers a general account of the formal debate in Euripides, including a contrast with the agon in Sophocles, and contains an extended discussion of Euripides' relationship to fifth-century rhetorical theory and practice. The main body of the book, however, is devoted to interpretations of the more important agones, giving special attention to their dramatic context and function. All Greek is transliterated, making the text accessible to non-specialists.

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9780198147787

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Reviews

Lloyd does an excellent job of describing the structure, style and strategies of Euripides' agones, and everyone interested in these rhetorical exchanges will read this book with profit. --Classical Bulletin<br> This is a meticulous and scholarly book. It is clear that the author has thought very hard about every sentence, and the result is a careful and highly reasoned discussion of the texts....The analyses of individual speeches are illuminating, and the book is clearly and elegantly written. There is a useful index. Overall, the book is certainly a success, and will undoubtedly be of help to many concerned either with Euripides or with Greek rhetoric. --The Classical Review<br>

`Lloyd does an excellent job of describing the structure, style and strategies of Euripides' agones, and everyone interested in these rhetorical exchanges will read this book with profit. ' Classical Bulletin `A book that is destined to be consulted more than read (and this is no criticism of the work). ' Michael Halleran, University of Washington, Bryn Mawr Classical Review (1992) `a valuable and helpful book ... Lloyd's careful and thorough treatment of his subject will help the modern reader and spectator to approach the Euripidean agon with greater understanding and appreciation. ' Greece & Rome, April 1993 `Lloyd does an excellent job of describing the structure, style and strategies of Euripides' agones, and everyone interested in these rhetorical exchanges will read this book with profit. ' Francis M. Dunn, Northwestern University, Classical Bulletin `This is a meticulous and scholarly book. It is clear that the author has thought very hard about every sentence, and the result is a careful and highly reasoned discussion of the texts ... the analyses of individual speeches are illuminating, and the book is clearly and elegantly written. There is a useful index. Overall, the book is certainly a success, and will undoubtedly be of help to many concerned either with Euripides or with Greek rhetoric. ' J.M. Mossman, Trinity College, Dublin, The Classical Review, Vol. XLIV, No. 2, 1994

`Lloyd does an excellent job of describing the structure, style and strategies of Euripides' agones, and everyone interested in these rhetorical exchanges will read this book with profit. ' Classical Bulletin `A book that is destined to be consulted more than read (and this is no criticism of the work). ' Michael Halleran, University of Washington, Bryn Mawr Classical Review (1992) `a valuable and helpful book ... Lloyd's careful and thorough treatment of his subject will help the modern reader and spectator to approach the Euripidean agon with greater understanding and appreciation. ' Greece & Rome, April 1993 `Lloyd does an excellent job of describing the structure, style and strategies of Euripides' agones, and everyone interested in these rhetorical exchanges will read this book with profit. ' Francis M. Dunn, Northwestern University, Classical Bulletin `This is a meticulous and scholarly book. It is clear that the author has thought very hard about every sentence, and the result is a careful and highly reasoned discussion of the texts ... the analyses of individual speeches are illuminating, and the book is clearly and elegantly written. There is a useful index. Overall, the book is certainly a success, and will undoubtedly be of help to many concerned either with Euripides or with Greek rhetoric. ' J.M. Mossman, Trinity College, Dublin, The Classical Review, Vol. XLIV, No. 2, 1994

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