Barbara Goff's Euripides: Trojan Women forms part of the Bristol Classical Press Companions to Greek and Roman Tragedy series and presents itself in a similar format to the other books in the collection. This companion is a useful introductory handbook for those looking to develop a deeper initial understanding of the text, particularly for those previously unfamiliar with it.
The book is structured thematically, with sections including ‘Contexts’ which provide an overview of specific contexts e.g. Athens in 415 BC and Tragedy in 415 BC, presenting a snapshot of the historical and cultural contexts of when the play was written. ‘The Play’ provides overviews of the key characters in the play and some deeper analysis of their characterisation, and ‘Twentieth-century Receptions’ gives details of modern receptions of the Trojan Women including well-known adaptations such as Michael Cacoyannis’ 1971 film and Suzuki Tadashi's theatrical adaptation as well as some lesser-known productions. The ‘Further Reading’ section includes signposting to an extensive list of research which could prove useful for pupils undertaking a deeper literature study or wishing to conduct their own research into particular aspects of the play. The volume does feel slightly weighted towards the ’Twentieth-century Receptions’ section which makes up the largest section of the book which may or may not be relevant depending on the purpose the reader requires it for.
The short, concise sections make this book particularly useful for pupils to quickly dip in and out of to find a specific piece of information or for a teacher to set as a reading task. More in-depth study of particular characters or themes would require further reading outside the scope of this volume, however, as the information contained within tends to be very brief. The language used throughout is generally appropriate for senior pupils. Some of the deeper analysis may challenge pupils but it is generally pitched at an appropriate level for those in the 16–18 year old age group. There is no knowledge of the Ancient Greek language required and there is a Glossary available for terms which may be unfamiliar to pupils. The ‘Contexts’ section contains some thought-provoking analysis for discussion and understanding of the text and explores some interesting avenues for deeper discussion with pupils, including feminism, the plight of women in war and the enduring and universal impact of conflict across time and culture.
Overall, this volume is a good starting point for those looking to gain an overview of the key aspects of Euripides’ Trojan Women and Goff's arguments are coherent and thought-provoking without being overly academic for the non-specialist. For those looking to gain a deeper understanding, the ’Further Reading’ section and Bibliography provide a list of extensive resource to aid further study.
Open access
