Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is a characteristic feature of Aristophanes' Old Comedies?
What is a characteristic feature of Aristophanes' Old Comedies?
Which play by Aristophanes is known for featuring a sex strike as a plot device?
Which play by Aristophanes is known for featuring a sex strike as a plot device?
Which period does Middle Comedy primarily transition into from Old Comedy?
Which period does Middle Comedy primarily transition into from Old Comedy?
What is a notable change in themes from Old Comedy to Middle Comedy?
What is a notable change in themes from Old Comedy to Middle Comedy?
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Which playwright is best known for New Comedy?
Which playwright is best known for New Comedy?
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What aspect of plays during the Greek New Comedy is emphasized?
What aspect of plays during the Greek New Comedy is emphasized?
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What was the primary god honored at the City Dionysia festival?
What was the primary god honored at the City Dionysia festival?
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How did the role of the chorus change from Old to Middle Comedy?
How did the role of the chorus change from Old to Middle Comedy?
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What genre of comedy focuses on societal relationships and reaffirming contemporary values?
What genre of comedy focuses on societal relationships and reaffirming contemporary values?
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Which playwright is known for writing all extant comedies from the 5th century BCE?
Which playwright is known for writing all extant comedies from the 5th century BCE?
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What characterizes the ending of ancient Greek comedies?
What characterizes the ending of ancient Greek comedies?
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How does ancient Greek comedy primarily differ from modern comedies?
How does ancient Greek comedy primarily differ from modern comedies?
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What was more prominently associated with comedy than the City Dionysia festival?
What was more prominently associated with comedy than the City Dionysia festival?
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What aspect of ancient Greek comedy does Aristotle's work provide insight into?
What aspect of ancient Greek comedy does Aristotle's work provide insight into?
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Which statement accurately describes the focus of contemporary comedies compared to ancient Greek comedies?
Which statement accurately describes the focus of contemporary comedies compared to ancient Greek comedies?
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Study Notes
Overview of Ancient Greek Comedy
- Comedy began in ancient Greece at the City Dionysia festival in 486 BCE to honor Dionysus, the god of wine and theater.
- While comedy was present at City Dionysia, it gained prominence at the Lenaia festival, known for its association with comedy and political satire.
- At the Lenaia festival, five comic writers presented one play each, though only a few comedies from this period survive.
Extant Works and Playwrights
- Aristophanes is the only playwright with extant works from the 5th century BCE, having written approximately forty plays, eleven of which have survived.
- His notable comedies, considered Old Comedies, include "Acharnians," "Knights," "Clouds," "Wasps," "Peace," "Birds," "Lysistrata," "Women at the Thesmophoria," and "Frogs."
- Old Comedies often featured commentary on social and political issues, including the Peloponnesian War, and employed fantastical exaggerations of everyday life.
Characteristics of Old Comedy
- Common themes included farcical elements, bodily pleasures, and a "happy idea" that characters adopted by the end of the play.
- Satire was prevalent, often including real people, such as mentions of the dramatist Sophocles in "Frogs."
- The genre declined after the Peloponnesian War in 404 BCE, leading to less political satire.
Greek Middle Comedy
- Dating from 404 to 336 BCE, Middle Comedy emerged as a transitional phase, moving away from the personal attacks characteristic of Old Comedy.
- Focus shifted to stories with relatable events and manners, often using stock characters.
- Notable extant plays from this period are "Assembly Women" and "Plutus," both by Aristophanes, characterized by a lack of political content.
- Fragmentary works from other playwrights such as Alexis and Antiphanes allow comparison of styles and techniques of the period.
Greek New Comedy
- Greek New Comedy developed from 320 to 260 BCE, marking a shift towards domestic stories featuring middle-class characters and societal relationships.
- Themes included romance and financial woes, moving away from political discourse common in earlier comedies.
- An estimated 1,400 New Comedies were likely produced during the Hellenistic period, with 64 known playwrights.
- The only complete play from this period, "The Grouch" by Menander, was rediscovered in 1957; Menander is regarded as the most significant playwright of New Comedy, believed to have written over 100 plays.
- New Comedy often featured dramatic devices like concealed identity and coincidence, embracing a wide range of tones from serious to farcical.
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Description
Test your knowledge about the origins and key figures of Ancient Greek comedy. Explore the role of festivals like the City Dionysia and Lenaia in the evolution of comedic theatre. Discover the major playwrights and the significance of their works in ancient literature.
