Elements of Greek Old Comedy

1. Old Comedy
and Aristophanes

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

3. Well. He was a lot like these
guys:

5. “NO WAY!”

6. •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)

7. Old Comedy
His 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).

8. Come now. You know what
“farce” is.
What?

9. A light dramatic work in which highly
improbable plot situations, exaggerated
characters, and often slapstick elements are
used for humorous effect.
FARCE

10. Oh yes. Farce.
LIKE SPONGEBOB!

11. Old Comedy
His 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).

12. 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.

13. Six Parts of a Comedy
Prologue, Parode, Agon, Parabasis, Episode, Exode

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. Agon
Two 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.

17. Parabasis
The 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”

18. Episode
• Happy idea put into practice
• Consequences; happy idea affects people
• Not usually sequential or connected
• Episodes tend to rise to emotional climax

19. Exode
An exit song. A mood of celebration and possibly with a riotous revel, joyous
marriage, or both.

20. 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.]

21. 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.

22. 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.