Course Description
Ancient comedy in English translation, concentrating on fifth-century Athens, and tracing its changing focus through Menander to Plautus and Terence; also considered will be the theoretical basis of comedy as discussed by Aristotle and others, as well as the place of comedy within the history of genres.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate Students are required to direct seminar sessions and write more extensive research papers.
Athena Title
Ancient Comedy
Prerequisite
CLAS 1000 or CLAS 1000E or CLAS 1000H or CLAS 1010 or CLAS 1010E or CLAS 1010H or CLAS 1020 or CLAS 1020E or CLAS 1020H or CLAS 3000 or CLAS 3010 or CLAS(ANTH) 3015 or CLAS(ANTH) 3015E or CLAS 3030 or CLAS 3040 or CLAS3050 or permission of department
Semester Course Offered
Not offered on a regular basis.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
1. STUDENTS WILL BECOME AWARE OF THE ANCIENT TRADITION OF COMEDY THROUGH THE ANALYSIS OF EXTANT PLAYS. 2. STUDENTS WILL BECOME AWARE OF THE FORMAL STRUCTURE OF COMEDY, AS WELL AS CONSPICUOUS FEATURES SUCH AS THE USE OF "STOCK CHARACTERS" AND INDECENCY. 3. STUDENTS WILL LEARN TO IDENTIFY THE PROGRAMMATIC CLAIMS MADE BY COMEDY FOR ITSELF AND TO EVALUATE THEM IN THE LIGHT OF COMIC PRACTICE. 4. STUDENTS WILL BECOME MORE AWARE OF COMIC GENRES SUCH AS MIME AND THE SATIRIC DIALOGUE WHICH COMPLEMENT OR SUCCEED COMIC DRAMA. 5. STUDENTS WILL BECOME AWARE OF COMEDY'S GENERIC STATUS AND WILL CONSIDER THE THEORETICAL STATUS OF COMEDY AS A PRECURSOR TO MODERN GENRES SUCH AS THE NOVEL. 6. STUDENTS WILL BE EVALUATED BY A MIDTERM, A FINAL EXAM AND A 10-15 PAPGE PAPER. 7. MUCH MORE ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT WILL BE EXPECTED OF THOSE ENROLLED FOR GRADUATE CREDIT--INCLUDING SEVERAL SEMINAR PRESENTATIONS AND A MORE EXTENSIVE TERM PAPER.
Topical Outline
THE ARISTOTELIAN ANALYSIS OF HUMOR PRECURSORS OF OLD COMEDY ARISTOPHANES: ACHARNIANS, CLOUDS, WASPS, THESMOPHORIAZUSAE, BIRDS, ECCLESIAZUSAE MENANDER: DYSCOLUS PLAUTUS: MENAECHMI, AMPHITRYO, MILES GLORIOSUS TERENCE: ANDRIA, PHORMIO, ADELPHOI COMEDY AND ITS RIVALS: MIME, DIALOGUE, SATIRE COMEDY AND GENRE THEORY