2 Olivia Pound 
classical dramas of Swinburne the principles of Greek lyric 
tragedy, to discover how far he conformed to them. The topics 
to be dealt with in examining his plays are, in order, the chorus, 
the characters, the dramatic motives, the observance of tlie 
unities, and the handling of the plot. The aim is not to give 
literary appreciation of Swinburne’s dramas, but to present a 
study of them from a specific point of view. 
In both Swinburne’s classical plays the chorus is an important 
factor. In Erechtheus, Swinburne achieved more nearly the 
perfect type of Greek tragedy than in the earlier play. The 
chorus of this play is composed of Athenian elders. They are 
the “ideal spectators” of Greek drama. These elders are in 
complete sympathy with the distracted king, and become his con- 
fidants. They approve what is well said, give advice when it 
seems needed, and, in general, reflect the feelings of the leading 
characters of the play. The Chorus in Atalanta in Calydon 
serves much the same purpose. It is composed of maidens who 
are on their way to make an offering to Artemis. They serve as 
the confidants of Queen Althaea. Though they cannot approve 
of many of her passionate outbursts, they pity her and seek to 
console her. 
The first choral ode of Erechtheus is narrative.2 It tells how 
the Thracian forces, urged on by Poseidon, have risen against 
Athens. The oracle at Delphi has been consulted, and the 
Athenians are fearful of its answer. Already two daughters of 
Erechtheus have been carried away by the gods. Enough sorrow 
has come upon the house and upon the city of Athens, 
The fruitful immortal anointed adored 
Dear city of men without master or lord 
Fair fortress and fortress of sons born free.? 
After the Queen Praxithea has told the chorus that she must 
sacrifice one of her remaining daughters to appease Poseidon, 
the chorus sings how the first sorrows‘ of Erechtheus came from 
2 Cf. Sophocles, Oedipus the King, ll. 151-215. 
3 Erechtheus, p. 345. 
4Cf. Aeschylus, Agamemnon, ll. 351-502. 
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