roman comedy
DESCRIPTION
Roman Comedy. Plautus (254-184 BC). 52 plays written, 20 survive First complete work in Latin wrote in style of New Comedy Style notes by quick action, crude humor, stock characters. Terence (195-159). Freed slave from North Africa - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Roman Comedy
52 plays written, 20 surviveFirst complete work in Latin wrote in style of New ComedyStyle notes by quick action, crude humor, stock characters
Plautus (254-184 BC)
Freed slave from North AfricaStyle more refined than Plautus, with sophisticated plot and character development
Not as popular during his life in comparison to Plautus, but later became more influential
6 plays survive
Terence (195-159)
period of Roman expansion after Punic WarsPreoccupation with Greece and Hellenistic culture
Surge of wealth among Roman citizensPolitical figures: Scipio Africanus, Cato the Elder Increase in foreign businessmen, diplomats, and educated slaves in Rome
Historical Context
Comedy emerges from religious festivals New Comedy focuses on everyday situations, love and marriage, and father-son relationships
241 BC – Ludi Romani Comedy and tragedy staged at Rome publicly for the first time
Ancient Comedy
Set up on temple grounds or a temporary stage for an annual drama festival
55 BC- Pompey the Great build first permanent theatre
set: city street with 3 houses with doors
Stage right exits to forum, stage left to the port or country
Stock costumesSpoken prologue
The Stage
Fabulae: written plotPalliatae: in Greek dress (palla)Feature stock new to Roman societyPolitical and literary referencesInclude laws and customs of RomeEmphasis on entertainment value, use of music
Fabulae Palliatae
Comedy was sung, or a combination of speaking and song
Dialouge: iambs ----Recitative: trochaics ---- Song: irregular and complex metersSong accompanied by wind instruments
Rhythm and Meter
Older spellingsU instead of I in superlatives (paucissuma)-os nominative singlar and –om acc singl(servos/servom instead of servus/servum)
-ce of –c to demonstratives (illic)Quoi = cuiQuom = cum
Language