Sophocles: Oedipus the King

After receiving his doctorate from Harvard University in 1976, David Kovacs joined the classics faculty at the University of Virginia, where he taught Greek and Latin language and literature for forty years.

• Introduction1. Sophocles and the great age of Athenian tragedy1a. What we know of Sophocles' life1b. How to avoid turning Sophocles into the wrong kind of classic2. The conditions of tragic performance in the fifth century BC3. The divine dimension: on not misunderstanding Sophocles' Oedipus the King3a. The role of Apollo in what happens before the play opens3b. Apollo at work within the play3c. Some general considerations in favour of an active Apollo3d. How much pure coincidence is there in Oedipus the Kinga3e. What was Apollo's reason for ruining Oedipusa3f. Justifying the ways of God to man4. A further source of confusion: Sophocles' manipulation of the plot5. The ending5a. The scene with the daughters5b. Why is Oedipus made to re-enter the palacea6. The translation: its aims and methods7. The Greek text: departures from Lloyd-Jones and Wilson, Sophoclis Fabulae (second impression, Oxford 1992)Works citedOEDIPUS THE KING, a verse translationNotes to the translationEndmatterSuggestions for further readingIndex

Kovacs, as is evident from his self-citation, focuses heavily on the religious context to Oedipus. The use of the introduction to lay out important background for novice readers, while simultaneously reflecting recent developments in scholarship is another elegant characteristic...