Category Archives: Greek Comedy

In a final wrap up to the Greek Comedy course, I have one question for you: What do the Greek comedies tell us about what it means to be human?

Today’s episode: The last Greek comedy! Discussion Prompts We have now seen Old Comedy, Middle Comedy, and New Comedy. Which is your favorite? Why? Are you familiar with Moliere’s The Misanthrope? If so, which play do you prefer, Dyskolos or The Misanthrope? Pan is a nature god, and the Nymphs are nature goddesses. Is thisContinue reading “Greek Comedy XIV: Menander’s Dyskolos, or the Remains of the New Comedy”

This is the last play we have from Aristophanes, bringing us to the end of Old Comedy. Unless we decide to call this Middle Comedy. It’s definitely transitional! Discussion Prompts If you were directing this play today, when would you set it? Why? What do you think of the personifications of Wealth (Plutus) and Poverty?Continue reading “Greek Comedy XIII: Aristophanes’s Plutus, or What If Wealth Could See?”

Whether you call it Assemblywomen, Congresswomen, Women at the Assembly, or Women at the Parliament, it is still my favorite and incredibly relevant to our current sociopolitical world. Discussion Prompts Why do you think Praxagora effectively disappears in the second half of this play? If you were to direct this play today, where and whenContinue reading “Greek Comedy XII: Aristophanes’s Ecclesiazusae, or More Marxist Than Marx”

I love this play. And even more than I love this play, I love Stephen Sondheim’s version of it. For the record: It was performed in a swimming pool. Which is brilliant. And funny. And I have a hard time reading the original Aristophanes without trying to fit the songs to Sondheim’s melodies. Discussion PromptsContinue reading “Greek Comedy XI: Aristophanes’s The Frogs, or Let’s Make Fun of All the Tragedians”

Thesmophoriazusae or Women at the Thesmophoria or The Poet and the Women is not as famous as Lysistrat, but it is another gynocentric comedy by Aristophanes. Discussion Prompts: How progressive/subversive/pick your modifier do you think this play is?  Why? If you were directing this play, what time period would you set it in?  Why? Who is theContinue reading “Greek Comedy X: Aristophanes’s Women at the Thesmophoria, or Let’s Make Fun of Euripides”

Content Warning! It is impossibly to talk about Lysistrata without talking about sex. Consider yourself warned. Discussion Prompts If you were directing this play today, what time period would you set it in?  Why? Do you consider this play to be progressive or conservative?  Why? How do you think the interpretation of this play is affected byContinue reading “Greek Comedy IX: Aristophanes’s Lysistrata, or Let the Women Handle It”

Birds is a weird play. For Aristophanes, it is a long play. But it also isn’t as topical as several of Aristophanes’s other plays. It is unique in the oeuvre that is Old Comedy. Discussion Prompts: Goodhope largely disappears as the play progresses. What does this make you think about the relationship between Makemedo andContinue reading “Greek Comedy VIII: Aristophanes’s Birds, or Tippi Hedren, Eat Your Heart Out”

According to Ian Storey, this is the most famous of Aristophanes’s plays. It’s not the first one I think of, but it does translate pretty well to today. Discussion Prompts When you think of Aristophanes, what’s the first play you think of?  Why? What do you think about the conflict between science and religion in thisContinue reading “Greek Comedy VII: Aristophanes’s Clouds, or Socrates is a Joke”

In this play, Aristophanes finally achieves his dream of ending the Peloponnesian War. And at least one of the sources I used in writing this episode thinks this is his greatest play. I look forward to hearing what you think about it. Discussion Prompts What do you think about the role of women in thisContinue reading “Greek Comedy VI: Aristophanes’s Peace, or Symbolism Much?”