HC - Classic Comedy and Drama Lesson
Classic Comedy and Drama
Aristotle delineated the classical appeals studied earlier: ethos, pathos, and logos. Aristotle also applied these terms specifically to drama.
Ethos appeals to the credibility of the protagonist or speaker and corresponds with a first-person perspective, the perspective of the author.
Pathos appeals to emotion and corresponds with the second person or the audience's perspective.
The third element, logos, appeals to logic and corresponds with the third person/logical perspective.
How do these elements relate to comedy? Developing and recognizing the perspective in literature is crucial in understanding the dimensions of the text. Keep these classical appeals in mind while inspecting the traits of classical comedy. In the Rhetoric of Speech Module, we closely examined the structure of tragedy by reading Antigone and Oedipus Rex by Sophocles.
Reading Assignment: "Distinctions Between Classical Tragedy and Comedy Handout"
Take a look at the following document that illustrates some of the major differences in classical tragedy and comedy. Click here to read the Distinctions Between Classical Tragedy and Comedy handout. Links to an external site.
In this module, we return to ancient Greece for a glance at the language of comedy by reading Aristophanes, widely regarded as the comic genius of Greek drama. Much like comedians today, controversy surrounded Aristophanes.
Reading Assignment: "Biography of Aristophanes"
In classical comedy, the contemporary audience of 425 BCE would have been expected to be familiar with the names of the characters because generally, the characters represented real people such as philosophers, writers, and political figures. The actors wore masks to portray their characters just like we saw in the tragedy genre, but in comedy, the masks depicted caricatures of real people instead of emotions. The idea is similar to political cartoons today. It is worth noting Aristophanes' political perspective. He was nostalgic and conservative. He felt that democracy produced a mob rule mentality.
Reading Assignment: "Political and Social Satire of Aristophanes"
Click here to read this brief essay describing Aristophanes' politics. Links to an external site.
Classical comedy used the setting of the theatre to parody the seriousness of tragedy. Instead of delivering a grand moral message, these writings prodded and poked at political figures and teased and taunted the social norms.
The following text, The Acharnians, is notable for its absurd humor, but also for its appeal for an end to the Peloponnesian War.
Read the following excerpt from The Acharnians and take note of the specific language that makes the text comical, but also supports a serious purpose. Remember, The Acharnians is the world's first anti-war comedy. Take notes on how Aristophanes undermines the notion of war. These will be necessary later.
Reading Assignment: "The Acharnians" Excerpt by Aristophanes
Click here to read an excerpt from "The Acharnians." Links to an external site.
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