Literary techniques used by Euripides
1. Stichomythic - Rapid back and forth dialogue to show emotional conflict
Eg : Apollo and death
2. Pathos - Suffering of Alcestis
3. Psychological Realism - Deep exploration of inner emotions
4. Moral Ambiguity - No definite answer
Eg : Euripides let the audience decide if whether Admetus or
Alcestis is correct
5. Changes the traditional norms of tragedy
- A wife dies (tragic)
- A hero returns her from death (almost comic)
- The play ends happily
This was unusual for tragedy.
Terms you can use:
● Tragicomedy
● Problem play
● Genre-blending
6. Female speeches that are powerful
7. Melancholy : Sad tone
The story
1. Long ago, the god Apollo fell in love with a woman named Koronis.
But Koronis was unfaithful to him.
2. Apollo became very angry.
With the help of Artemis, Koronis was killed.
3. Before she died, Apollo saved her unborn child.
That child was Asclepius
4. Asklepios grew up to become a great healer.
He was so powerful that he could bring dead people back to life.
5. This made Zeus furious.
6. Why?
Because bringing people back from the dead disturbed the natural order.
, 7. So Zeus struck Asclepius with lightning and killed him.
8. Apollo was heartbroken and angry.
To take revenge, he killed the Cyclopes, who made Zeus’ lightning bolts.
9. Zeus punished Apollo for this.
👉
10.His punishment:
Apollo had to live as a slave to a mortal man, Admetus, the king of Pherae.
11. At that time:
● King Pelias promised his daughter Alcestis in marriage
● But only to the man who could yoke a lion and a boar to a chariot
That was impossible for a human.
👉 Apollo helped Admetus do it.
So Admetus won Alcestis and married her.
12. At his wedding:
● Admetus forgot to sacrifice to Artemis
This made Artemis angry.
When Admetus entered the marriage room:
● It was filled with coiled snakes
👉
This was a sign:
Admetus was about to die
13. Apollo felt sorry for Admetus.
So he:
● Spoke to the Fates (the Moirai)
● Asked them to spare Admetus’ life
1. Stichomythic - Rapid back and forth dialogue to show emotional conflict
Eg : Apollo and death
2. Pathos - Suffering of Alcestis
3. Psychological Realism - Deep exploration of inner emotions
4. Moral Ambiguity - No definite answer
Eg : Euripides let the audience decide if whether Admetus or
Alcestis is correct
5. Changes the traditional norms of tragedy
- A wife dies (tragic)
- A hero returns her from death (almost comic)
- The play ends happily
This was unusual for tragedy.
Terms you can use:
● Tragicomedy
● Problem play
● Genre-blending
6. Female speeches that are powerful
7. Melancholy : Sad tone
The story
1. Long ago, the god Apollo fell in love with a woman named Koronis.
But Koronis was unfaithful to him.
2. Apollo became very angry.
With the help of Artemis, Koronis was killed.
3. Before she died, Apollo saved her unborn child.
That child was Asclepius
4. Asklepios grew up to become a great healer.
He was so powerful that he could bring dead people back to life.
5. This made Zeus furious.
6. Why?
Because bringing people back from the dead disturbed the natural order.
, 7. So Zeus struck Asclepius with lightning and killed him.
8. Apollo was heartbroken and angry.
To take revenge, he killed the Cyclopes, who made Zeus’ lightning bolts.
9. Zeus punished Apollo for this.
👉
10.His punishment:
Apollo had to live as a slave to a mortal man, Admetus, the king of Pherae.
11. At that time:
● King Pelias promised his daughter Alcestis in marriage
● But only to the man who could yoke a lion and a boar to a chariot
That was impossible for a human.
👉 Apollo helped Admetus do it.
So Admetus won Alcestis and married her.
12. At his wedding:
● Admetus forgot to sacrifice to Artemis
This made Artemis angry.
When Admetus entered the marriage room:
● It was filled with coiled snakes
👉
This was a sign:
Admetus was about to die
13. Apollo felt sorry for Admetus.
So he:
● Spoke to the Fates (the Moirai)
● Asked them to spare Admetus’ life
