Sophocles and Thucydides

FAIN: FS-10298-76

Cornell University (Ithaca, NY 14850-2820)
Gordon M. Kirkwood (Project Director: January 1976 to present)

To examine the relationships of thought and style between Sophocles and Thucydides. The seminar will touch on two aspects of comparison: first the affinity of Thucydides for Sophoclean drama in matters of literary structure, character presentation, and moral outlook, and second, the connections or contrasts of political interest and conviction revealed by shared vocabulary and by the presentation of human fortunes and their causes by these two authors.