5B Greek Comedy - Menander Flashcards
When was Dyscolus written?
In the late 4th century BC
What genre is Dyscolus? What is this opposed to?
- New comedy
- Old comedy plays of Aristophanes which are much ruder and have more bizarre plots
Who is Sostratos?
a rich Athenian man who falls in love with Knemon’s daughter through Pan’s interference
Who is Kallippides?
Sostratos’ father, a wealthy Athenian man
Who is Pyrrhias?
A slave owned by Sostratos and his family
Who is Getas?
a slave of Sostratos and his family (his dad’s slave really)
Who is Knemon?
“the grouch” named in the title of the play. He has a daughter and is also Gorgias’ stepfather
Who is Myrrhine?
Knemon’s estranged wife and Gorgias’ mother. She has gone to live with Gorgias because of her husband’s bad temper
Who is Gorgias?
Knemon’s stepson who helps Sostratos to win over Knemon so he can marry Gorgias’ half-sister
Who is Daos?
A slave of Gorgias’
Who is Simiche?
An old woman who is a slave of Knemon
Who is Sikon?
A cook employed by Sostratos’ family
How does the play start?
Pan starts the play and introduces Knemon and his farm. He tells the backstory of Knemon’s wife and children
What is the backstory of Knemon’s wife and children?
Knemon’s wife had a son and was widowed before they married. She left Knemon not long after giving birth to their daughter because he treated her poorly
Why does Pan appreciate the daughter? What does he do as a result of this?
- She is respectful and pious towards the nymphs
- He wants her to have a good marriage so he makes Sostratos fall madly in love with her
What does Pyrrhias do in the play? What happens to him?
- He is sent by Sostratos to speak to Knemon regarding the marriage of Sostratos and his daughter
- He is beaten and chased away by Knemon before he can even ask
Why does Sostratos suggest getting Getas?
He believes that Getas could sort out Knemon (for want of a better term)
What does Daos do when he sees Sostratos with the Girl?
He goes to tell her brother as he is wary of Sostratos’ intentions
Where is Getas when Sostratos goes to get him?
Out hiring a cook
What does Getas tell Sikon?
About the dream Sostratos’ mother had about Pan putting him in fetters and making him work the land (which is why they’re doing the sacrifice)
What happens when Getas asks Knemon for a pot?
Knemon is as horrible as ever
When does Simiche first appear?
She cries out as she drops the mattock and bucket down the well, which Knemon scolds her for
When is the second time we see Simiche?
She comes for help when Knemon falls down the well
What do Getas and Simiche do at the end of the play?
They tease the recovering Knemon until he agrees to join the wedding celebrations
Who are the four slaves in the play?
- Pyrrhias
- Getas
- Daos
- Simiche
