TY - BOOK ID - 21696305 TI - Oxford readings in Menander, Plautus, and Terence PY - 1994 SN - 0198721935 9780198721932 0198721927 PB - London : Routledge, DB - UniCat KW - Classical drama (Comedy) KW - History and criticism KW - Menander, KW - Terence KW - Plautus, Titus Maccius KW - Plaute KW - Plauto, Tito Maccio KW - Terenz KW - Terenzio Afro, Publio KW - Menandros, KW - Athens, Menander of KW - Menandro, KW - Ménandre, KW - Menandorosu, KW - מינאנדרוס KW - Criticism and interpretation. KW - Terentius Afer, Publius KW - Criticism and interpretation KW - Comédie classique KW - History and criticism. KW - Histoire et critique KW - Menander of Athens KW - Afer, Publius Terentius KW - Terentius, P. KW - Afro, Publio Terencio KW - Terencjusz KW - Terent︠s︡iĭ, Publiĭ KW - Terencio KW - Terencio Afro, Publio KW - Terentios KW - Terenzio KW - Terentius Apher, Publius KW - Apher, Publius Terentius KW - טרנטיוס KW - Plavt, Tit Makt︠s︡iĭ KW - Plautus, M. Accius KW - Plautus KW - Plautus, M. Attius KW - Plautus, Marcus Actius KW - Plautus, Marcus Accius KW - Plautus, Marcus Attius KW - Plauto, Marco Accio KW - Plautos, Titos Makkios KW - פלאוטוס KW - Менандр, KW - Classical drama (Comedy) - History and criticism KW - Menander, - of Athens - Criticism and interpretation KW - Plautus, Titus Maccius - Criticism and interpretation KW - Terence - Criticism and interpretation KW - Menander KW - Menander Comicus KW - Menandro KW - Ménandre KW - Menandros KW - Menander, - of Athens UR - https://www.unicat.be/uniCat?func=search&query=sysid:21696305 AB - This anthology documents the origins of modern comedy by examining the evolution of "New comedy", the Greek genre of which the works of Menander are the only surviving example. The earlier so-called "Old Comedy" authors like Aristophanes wrote in a completely different style : raucous, bawdy, fantastical, and vaudevillian, "a comic idea" instead of a plot. Menander (of whom Plutarch said, "what other reason would a cultivated man have to go to the theatre ?) and his contemporaries presented civilised, urban comedies based on the themes of quiet domestic dramas. The Romans adapted these comedies giving them their own farcical spin. Though they alleged that they were basing their comedies on Greek originals, Plautus referred to them as "barbarian versions" ; they were mockeries on Hellenistic themes. Terence, by contrast, is more like Menander, whose plays he followed with some fidelity, but without success. The Romans did not crave realism, they wanted a good laugh and Terence - though he could have done so - refused to pander to their vulgar tastes. Yet he got his revenge. It was Terence who provided the touchstone boy-meets-girl plots which still appear today in various guises on the silver screen. An authoritative introduction sets the paper, which are by leading experts in their field, in context and explores connections between them thus examining the legacy for modern comedies. All Latin and Greek is translated. ER -