Old Comedyand Aristophanes

Aristophanes Air-is-STOF-uh-knees. So, who was this guy?

Well. He was a lot like these

guys:

“NO WAY!”

•Most famous Greek comedian

•Born in the 440s b.c.

•Lived through Peloponnesian War (431 to

404)

•Many of his plays comment on the long war

•Produced his first play in 427.

•By the time he died (380s) he had written

44 comedies (11 remain)

Old ComedyHis plays were Old Comedies, or “farce: that is, his

plays involve action more often than character,

fantasy more often than realism, ridicule and

slapstick more often than irony. But they differ from

later farce in a crucial way: they contain, as an

essential and integral feature of their style, serious

themes, serious characters and serious language,

all of which are combined with hilarity and slapstick

in a manner characteristic of no other writer” (The

Theatre of Aristophanes, Taplinger: 1980. p. 14).

Come now. You know what

“farce” is.

What?

A light dramatic work in which highly

improbable plot situations, exaggerated

characters, and often slapstick elements are

used for humorous effect.

FARCE

Oh yes. Farce.

LIKE SPONGEBOB!

Old ComedyHis plays were Old Comedy, or “farce: that is, his

plays involve action more often than character,

fantasy more often than realism, ridicule and

slapstick more often than irony. But they differ

from later farce in a crucial way: they contain, as

an essential and integral feature of their style,

serious themes, serious characters and serious

language, all of which are combined with hilarity

and slapstick in a manner characteristic of no other

writer” (The Theatre of Aristophanes, Taplinger:

1980. p. 14).

So it’s not just funny. It has a

deeper meaning. A purpose.

In the movie, Anchorman 2, Will

Farrell’s antics as Ron Burgundy are

not just about the ridiculous, slapstick

consequences of being a famous news

anchor.

More importantly, it is about an

arrogant man’s fall and restoration as

a husband and father whose focus is

no longer on himself.

That’s FARCE with a purpose.

Six Parts of a ComedyPrologue, Parode, Agon, Parabasis, Episode, Exode

Prologue A monologue or dialogue

preceding the entry of the

chorus, which presents the

comedy's topic.

Sometimes called, “The

Happy Idea”

This “Happy Idea” is usually

extravagantly imaginative or

absurdly impractical

But, the main character

thinks it will fix the problem.

Parode

Parode (Entrance Ode): The

entry chant of the chorus.

Generally, they remain on

stage throughout the

remainder of the play.

Although they wear masks,

their dancing is expressive, as

conveyed by the hands, arms

and body.

Aristophanes used 24 instead

of 12 chorus members.

AgonTwo speakers debate the issue, and the first speaker loses.

Debate in which “happy idea” is opposed, or defended.

Opposition to “happy idea” is always defeated.

ParabasisThe chorus members remove their masks and step out of character to

address the audience. They express the poet’s thoughts; state the play’s

theme; discuss the implications of play.

This is the idea in theater of “Breaking the Fourth Wall”

Episode

• Happy idea put into practice

• Consequences; happy idea affects people

• Not usually sequential or connected

• Episodes tend to rise to emotional climax

Exode

An exit song. A mood of celebration and possibly with a riotous revel, joyous

marriage, or both.

So what are these comedies

about?

CURRENT EVENTS:

Politics

Education

Long war with Sparta

[Valuable source of information about the daily life and politics of classical Athens.]

ALSO:

Critique of literature, particularly tragedy:

Parodies Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides.

[Aristophanes add enormously to our knowledge of plays and playwrights we’ve no

other record of.]

Much like The Daily Show

John doesn’t REALLY want to create a Wipeout course for

illegal aliens, but border control IS a legitimate issue of

concern that requires some kind of answer.

So let’s review:

Aristophanes was the most famous writer of Old

Comedy.

Old Comedy was made up of six parts: Prologue,

Parode, Agon, Parabisis, Episodes, and Exode.

Old Comedy was a silly way to say something

important.