"When Aristotle said that tragedy is an imitation of action, he meant that apart from other purposes and interests tragedy always acts out a story. With this definition in mind, the author examines the most important story patterns found in Greek tragedy. He asks: What are the most important story patterns found in Greek drama? What stories were available for the use of poets like Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides? What did tradition require, permit or forbid them to use? Bringing in many related elements of Greek tragedy, the author defines each of the story patterns suitable to the genre -- tracing the roots to the folklore and myths of ancient Greece." -- Back cover.