In both Prometheus Unbound and Hellas Shelley used the drama of Aeschylus as the model for composition. Accordingly, the plays' subtitle "Lyrical Drama" refers to the two major components of Aeschylean drama: the lyrics recited by the chorus and the drama of character dialogue. In taking up this specific literary genre, the poet also inherited a complex model of the socio-political system of ancient Greece, with which the dramatists had been able to explore contemporary issues. Through various means, Shelley adapted Aeschylean drama to his own language and style, using the genre's inherent capacity for social critique to examine the concerns of his time.

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