Chart and Worksheet for Sophocles' Ajax

by Robin Mitchell-Boyask, Temple University

Prologue Episode 1 Episode 2 Episode 3.a Episode 3.b Episode 4 Episode 5
Athena advises Odysseus, who is trying to discover what has happened to Ajax, no his enemy. Athena reports how she drove Ajax mad to prevent him from killing the army's leaders. The mad Ajaxappears, and Odysseus pities him Tecmessa searches for Ajax, revealing his torture of the livestock and his awakening from madness.Ajax emerges, lamenting his fall from grace and his his dishonor before the army and his father Telamon. He asks for his son. Ajax ponders time and change. He will now yield, just as the seasons yield to one another. (Son and wife are there silent) Messenger reports Ajax's earlier rebuke to Athena and Calchas' prophecy that Ajax is safe if he lives through today. Tecmessarealizes that Ajax has NOT yielded and all exit the stage to search for him.

Empty orchestra and skene.

Ajax bids farewell to the world, and falls on the sword that Hector had given him Tecmessa discovers his corpse and covers it. His half brother Teucer finally arrives, and laments his fall and fears Telamon's wrath. Menelaus arrives and demands the corpse not be buried. They argue. Teucer instructs Ajax's family to hold his corpse for protection Teucer and Agamemnon continue the argument with harsh insults. Odysseus convinces the leaders to respect the memory of the heroic Ajax, appealing to their self-interest, that all might suffer this fate. A funeral procession forms
Parodos Stasimon 1 Stasimon 2 Choral interlude (parodos 2) Stasimon 3 Exodos
We fear for our leader Ajax. All fear him Is some god angry? Fears of death. Would death be better for Ajax? Ajax has ended his quarrel with the leaders! Fear is gone Where is Ajax? When will the war end? I wish I could return home! No man knows the future.

Parts played by first actor:
Parts played by second actor:
Parts played by third actor:

Study questions

  1. Does Ajax deserve this end? Why is Athena so angry at him?
  2. How justified is Athena's conduct? Do you find fault with it?
  3. What affect would the empty playing area in episode 3 have?
  4. Is the Odysseus here consistent with the Homeric Odysseus? Why or why not?
  5. Compare Episode 1 with Book 6 of the Iliad. Is Ajax like Hector?
  6. What does this play show you about father-son relationships as imagined during this era?
  7. Does Ajax actively deceive his friends and family by killing himself?
  8. If this play were found without a designated author, would you still think it was written by Sophocles?


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