Study Chart for Euripides' Hecuba, by Robin Mitchell-Boyask, Associate Professor of Classics, Temple University

 

Prologue

Episode 1

Episode 2

Episode 3

Episode 4

Episode 5

The ghost of Polydorus explains his presence at the camps of the Greeks in Thrace. Hecuba anguishes over a nightmare.

Hecuba laments Polyxena, who joins her mother. Odysseus comes to fetch her, and Hecuba attempts to shame him Polyxena prefers death to slavery.

The herald Talthybius describes the death of Polyxena. Hecuba laments and orders her corpse not be touched. She orders a servant to fetch water for a ritual cleansing

Servant brings corpse of Polydorus to Hecuba, who suspects Polydorus. Agamemnon hears her pleas for help. She plots revenge.

Polymestor answers Hecuba's invitation with his sons. Hecuba brings them into the tent for her vengeance.

Screams from inside. Hecuba emerges triumphant. Polymestor crawls out from the tent, blinded. Agamemnon judges their claims. Polymestor loses, and prophesies their fates..

Parodos
Sympathy for Hecuba; Polyxena will be sacrficied

Stasimon 1
Where will we be taken in slavery?

Stasimon 2
If only Paris had not judged the goddesses

Stasimon 3
Remembering the night Troy fell. Condemnation of Helen and Paris.

Choral interlude
You will pay!

Exodus
Let's go to the ships

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

Study Questions:
1. What is the relationship between revenge and justice?
2. Where are the gods here?
3. Is the image of Achilles here consistent with other portayals?
4. In what ways does this drama evoke the Oresteia?
5. Does Hecuba's character degrade morally during the course of the action?
6.Is the drama disjointed? What is the relationship between its two halves?

 

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