Greek and Roman Comedy: Translations and Interpretations of Four Representative Plays / Edition 1

by Shawn O'Bryhim, George Fredric Franko, Timothy J. Moore, S. Douglas Olson

Overview

Much of what we know of Greco-Roman comedy comes from the surviving works of just four playwrights—the Greeks Aristophanes and Menander and the Romans Plautus and Terence. To introduce these authors and their work to students and general readers, this book offers a new, accessible translation of a representative play by each playwright, accompanied by a general introduction to the author's life and times, a scholarly article on a prominent theme in the play, and a bibliography of selected readings about the play and playwright.

This range of material, rare in a single volume, provides several reading and teaching options, from the study of a single author to an overview of the entire Classical comedic tradition. The plays have been translated for readability and fidelity to the original text by established Classics scholars. Douglas Olson provides the translation and commentary for Aristophanes' Acharnians, Shawn O'Bryhim for Menander's Dyskolos, George Fredric Franco for Plautus' Casina, and Timothy J. Moore for Terence's Phormio.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780292760554
Publisher:	University of Texas Press
Publication date:	06/01/2001
Pages:	330
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Shawn O’Bryhim is Associate Professor of Classics at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, PA.

Table of Contents

• Preface
• Aristophanes and Athenian Old Comedy by S. Douglas Olson
  • Introduction
  • The Politics of Comedy and the Problem of the Reception of Aristophanes' Acharnians
  • Select Bibliography
  • A Note on the Translation
  • Acharnians
• Menander and Greek New Comedy by Shawn O'Bryhim
  • Introduction
  • Dance, Old Man, Dance!: The Torture of Knemon in Menander's Dyskolos
  • Select Bibliography
  • Dyskolos; or, The Grouch
• Plautus and Roman New Comedy by George Fredric Franko
  • Introduction
  • Cleostrata in Charge: Tradition and Variation in Casina
  • Select Bibliography
  • Casina
• Terence and Roman New Comedy by Timothy J. Moore
  • Introduction
  • Who Is the Parasite?: Giving and Taking in Phormio
  • Select Bibliography
  • Phormio

What People are Saying About This

William S. Anderson

We need for teaching and for the general public good books about Greco-Roman comedy, and this is one. . . . It is for ordinary literate people who would like an intelligent introduction to Ancient Comedy and direct contact with some fresh translations of four plays. (William S. Anderson, Professor Emeritus of Classics, University of California, Berkeley)

Editorial Reviews

Those of us who teach ancient comedy in translation are well aware that it is frustratingly difficult to find readable translations and affordable editions of the ancient texts; this collection ably fills this gap.

Bryn Mawr Classical Review

Those of us who teach ancient comedy in translation are well aware that it is frustratingly difficult to find readable translations and affordable editions of the ancient texts; this collection ably fills this gap.-- "Bryn Mawr Classical Review" (7/1/2002 12:00:00 AM)

From the Publisher

Those of us who teach ancient comedy in translation are well aware that it is frustratingly difficult to find readable translations and affordable editions of the ancient texts; this collection ably fills this gap.

Bryn Mawr Classical Review - Lisa Rengo George