Polyeucte
Assigned by 1 of the 9 reading lists, catalogue entry only
- Written
- 1642-1643
- Form
- Tragedy
- Language
- French
- Length
- Short · 90 ppunder 120 pages
- Difficulty
- Demanding3 of 5 for a first-year reader
We recommendPolyeuctus, The Liar, Nicomedes, translated by John CairncrossPenguin Classics, 1980Cairncross's verse translation; the Harvard Classics uses Thomas Constable's version.
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In Roman Armenia in the third century, Polyeucte, an Armenian nobleman newly married to Pauline, the governor's daughter, is secretly baptised a Christian and smashes the idols at a public sacrifice. His father-in-law Félix must condemn him. Pauline, who married Polyeucte from duty while loving the Roman Sévère, pleads for his life, but he chooses martyrdom; his death converts first Pauline and then Félix. Corneille's Christian tragedy, in which love of God outranks even the heroic virtue of his other plays.
No reading guide yet
The catalogue entry above is complete: the dates, the form, the themes and every program that assigns Polyeucte are verified against each program's published list.
What is missing is the part that takes real work: the summary, the key passages, and a recommended translation. The edition named below is the one most programs assign, so the buy links are useful already.
