Philoctetes

Style and Technique

Sophocles' «Philoctetes» is written in the genre of ancient Greek tragedy. The style of the work is characterized by highly poetic and solemn language. Sophocles uses complex metaphors, allegories, and symbols to convey deep philosophical and moral ideas. The language of the tragedy is rich with archaisms and grand expressions, giving the text majesty and drama. Literary devices include the use of a chorus, which comments on and interprets events, as well as monologues and dialogues that reveal the inner experiences of the characters. The structure of the narrative is traditional for ancient Greek tragedy: prologue, parodos (introductory song of the chorus), episodes (main scenes), stasima (choral songs between episodes), and exodus (concluding part).