GRST 381 - Ancient Laughter

Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)

This course surveys the comic dramas of Aristophanes, Menander, Plautus, and Terence in English translation. Ancient comedies were state-supported productions, which, from the extravagant fantasies of Athenian “Old” Comedy to the domestic scenarios of “New Comedy in Republican Rome,” address a range of subjects that reflect the conduct and self-definition of the community at large–subjects such as war, education, gender roles, slavery, and marriage. We focus on the social and political tensions underlying ancient comedy and the ways in which it reorders or restores a disjointed world through the medium of laughter. We also discuss comic theories and the reception of ancient comedy from Shakespeare to Hollywood through examination of selected works. Mr. Brown.

Prerequisite(s): coursework in Greek and Roman Studies or relevant work in other departments.

Two 75-minute periods.

Courses in English translation, numbered X00-X19 are taught entirely in English. No knowledge of Greek or Latin is required.