Roman Comedy XVI: Plautus’s Menaechmi, or Shakespeare’s Favorite Source Material

Posted byTriumvir ClioPosted inRoman Comedy, The Romans

If one Menaechmus is good, then two must be better!

Discussion Prompts
  1. AP Credit: Discuss the concept of alienation as seen the the twin Menaechmi brothers.
  2. How would you cast this play? Would you riff on Shakespeare’s double set of twins by casting the same actor as both Peniculus (Diddley – the parasite) and Messenio (Smug – the slave)? Why or why not?
  3. AP Credit: Discuss the concept of madness/insanity as presented in this play.
  4. Which is your favorite Shakespeare play that uses the trope originated in this play? Why?
  5. What are the pros and cons of comparing Menaechmi to Comedy of Errors?

Published by Triumvir Clio

I have a BA in History and Classical Civilization from Loyola University Chicago and an MPH from Western Michigan University. I've been a geometry teacher, a religion teacher, a writing tutor. I'm a writer, a knitter, a dancer, a singer, an actor. And, yes, for fun I like to reread everything that was assigned while getting my classics degree.

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