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