Verse Set Text Group 3 (2025–26): Euripides, Hippolytus, lines 284–361, 391–524

Euripides' Hippolytus is a tragedy that explores the destructive power of unchecked passion and the conflict between human desires and divine will. The prescribed lines (284–361, 391–524) focus on the pivotal scene where Phaedra, tormented by her illicit love for her stepson Hippolytus, is persuaded by her Nurse to reveal her secret. This section is crucial for understanding Phaedra's psychological turmoil, the Nurse's manipulative rhetoric, and the play's central themes of shame (αἰδώς), reputation, and the consequences of suppressing desire. For OCR A-Level Greek, students must analyse the original language, including Euripides' use of imagery, rhetorical devices, and characterisation, to appreciate how the text reflects Athenian social values and gender dynamics.

This passage marks a turning point in the play: Phaedra's confession leads to the Nurse's plan to approach Hippolytus, setting in motion the tragic chain of events. Euripides masterfully contrasts Phaedra's internal struggle with the Nurse's pragmatic, worldly advice, highlighting the tension between aristocratic honour and survival. The language is rich in medical and nautical metaphors (e.g., Phaedra's 'disease' of love, the 'storm' of her emotions), which students should identify and explain in their literary analysis. Understanding this scene is essential for discussing the play's moral ambiguity—Phaedra is both victim and agent of her fate—and for evaluating Euripides' critique of traditional gender roles and the gods' capriciousness.

In the broader context of the A-Level course, this set text group (Verse Set Text Group 3) requires students to demonstrate close reading skills, including scansion, translation, and commentary on stylistic features. The Hippolytus passage is particularly valuable for exploring how Euripides uses rhetoric to manipulate audience sympathy: the Nurse's persuasive speech (391–524) is a masterpiece of emotional blackmail, while Phaedra's earlier monologue (284–361) reveals her acute awareness of social stigma. Students should be prepared to compare Euripides' treatment of these themes with other prescribed texts, such as Sophocles' Antigone or Aristophanes' Frogs, to show a synoptic understanding of Greek literature.