Balaustion's Adventure by Robert Browning
Balaustion tells four friends how her knowledge of Euripides secured refuge at Syracuse for a ship fleeing pirates, and how she later met the poet in Athens. She retells his Alkestis, in which a wife dies in Admetos's place and Herakles rescues her from Death. She then imagines another version: Alkestis dies to sustain her husband's intended just rule, but Koré returns her to life because her sacrifice would double his strength.
By Robert Browning · Genre: Narrative Poetry, Dramatic Monologue, Classical Adaptation · 34,423 words
First lines
Including
A Transcript from Euripides
Genres
- Narrative Poetry — The verse narrates Balaustion's dangerous voyage, her performances at Syracuse, and the death and restoration of Alkestis.
- Dramatic Monologue — Balaustion addresses four named friends, recounting her adventure and commenting on the characters as she recites the tragedy.
- Classical Adaptation — Balaustion retells Euripides' Alkestis with her own commentary, then proposes an alternative account of the sacrifice and restoration.
Tags
Greek tragedy · self-sacrifice · hospitality · rescue from death · poetry and performance · sea voyage
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Balaustion's Adventure is listed on Textopian as a poem by Robert Browning, dated Date unknown.
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- Work type: Poem
- Author: Robert Browning
- Date: Date unknown
- Language: English
- Genres: Narrative Poetry, Dramatic Monologue, Classical Adaptation
- Length: 34,423 words
- Structure: 1 section, 285 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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- Work identity for Balaustion's Adventure by Robert Browning
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