Ancient Greek comedy

The Old Comedy Era

Aristophanes born in 446 BC stands as the most important Old Comic dramatist. His works feature pungent political satire and abundance of sexual and scatological innuendo. He lampooned the most important personalities and institutions of his day through buffoonish portrayals like Socrates in The Clouds. His racy anti-war farce Lysistrata remains one of his best-known plays. Aristophanes competed against rivals such as Hermippus and Eupolis during the late 5th century BC. Later European writers including Rabelais Cervantes Swift and Voltaire copied his technique of disguising political attacks as buffoonery.

Transition To Middle Comedy

No complete Middle Comic plays have been preserved making real assessment impossible. Ancient scholars viewed this period simply as later than Aristophanes but earlier than Menander. The role of the chorus diminished until it had no influence on the plot. Public characters were not impersonated or personified onstage during these performances. Stock characters emerged including courtesans parasites revellers philosophers boastful soldiers and a conceited cook with his parade of culinary science. Mythological burlesque remained popular among poets for at least some time. Many plays appear to have been revived in Sicily and Magna Graecia suggesting considerable widespread literary and social influence.

What did Aristotle define comedy as in his Poetics around 335 BC?

Aristotle defined comedy as a representation of laughable people involving blunders or ugliness that does not cause pain or disaster. He distinguished the genre from tragedy by its happy endings and use of comically exaggerated character archetypes.

When was Aristophanes born and what characterized his Old Comic plays?

Aristophanes was born in 446 BC and wrote works featuring pungent political satire with abundant sexual and scatological innuendo. His plays lampooned important personalities through buffoonish portrayals such as Socrates in The Clouds and included racy anti-war farces like Lysistrata.

Why are no complete Middle Comic plays preserved today?

No complete Middle Comic plays have been preserved which makes real assessment impossible for scholars studying this period. Ancient scholars viewed this era simply as later than Aristophanes but earlier than Menander while noting that the role of the chorus diminished until it had no influence on the plot.

Who was Menander and when was he born relative to other playwrights?

Menander was born around 342 BC and became the most highly esteemed playwright of New Comedy despite Philemon regularly beating him in contests. His comedies centered on fears and foibles of ordinary men rather than politics and public life while presenting Athenian society in attractive colors without attempting criticism.

What Roman adaptations did Plautus create from Greek comedy sources?

Plautus translated and adapted comedies by Diphilus demonstrating skill in construction of plots with Asinaria and Rudens standing as examples of these Roman adaptations. Horace claimed Menander as a model for his own gentle brand of Roman satire while the five-act structure first appeared in Menander's comedies where choral interludes were replaced by dialogue with song.

Ancient Greek comedy.