Greek And Roman Lit Flashcards
What does capta describe?
Graecia
What does ferum describe?
Victorem
What does agresti describe?
Latio
Translate the following qoute from Horace: Graecia capta ferum victorem cepit et artes intulit agresti Latio.
Captive Greece captured her rough conquerors and brought the arts to rustic Latium.
What Greek epic did Livius Andronicus translate into Latin?
The Odyssey
How did Naevius contribute to the adaptation of the Greek epic in Latin literature?
applys a Roman theme to a Greek epic form
What did Ennius synthesize together to complete the assimilation of the Greek epic into Latin literature?
He synthesized the epic form and Greek meter into Latin
Greek drama
A.) occasion?
B.) function?
C.) structure?
A.) occasion: distinguished religious/ civic occasions
B.) function: cultural showcases
C.) structure: permanent theaters
Roman drama
A.) occasion?
B.) function?
C.) structure?
A.) occasion: performed as part of the ludi ( games)
B.) function: popular entertainment
C.) structure: temporary stages
Describe the physical layout of a Roman stage and how the audience knew where the characters were coming from and going as they entered and exited the stage.
Long ( as much as 60 yards) and narrow stage; 2 house fronts with alley between them; stage left always led to the forum; stage right led to the harbor or country; strangers always entered from the actor’s right
What are characteristics of Plautus plays?
- dramatic
- tavern life
- caricature
- boisterous, farcical speech
- non dimensional characters
- around 200 bc ( Romans were fighting in Punic wars during this time)
- only goal is to entertain
- 21 plays
What are characteristics of Terence plays?
- dimensional characters
- artistic
- home life
- portraiture
- natural conversation
- about 40 years later then Plautus
- ” Menander”
- 6 plays
- from North Africa
What was the Scipionic Circle?
Pro-Greek literary group
What is fabulae palliatae?
Comedies in Greek dress
What is fabulae togatae?
Comedies in Roman dress
What was Roman attitude towards Greek culture?
Ambivalent
Briefly explain what Horace quote means.
Even though the Romans conquered the Greeks military, the Greeks conquered the Romans culturally
April- ludi meganenses- 194 bc
Magna mater
July- ludi apollinares - 213 bc
Apollo
Sept- ludi Romani - 364 bc
Jupiter Optimus Maximus
Nov- ludi plebeii- c. 220 bc
Jupiter
Ludi fenebres
Funeral games for important public figures
More of a caricature than a distinct, realistic character. The solider is boastful both of his military exploits and his ability to charm the ladies. Often he comes to town with the expectation of acquiring the maiden, but it never works out.
Miles gloriosus
Often the love interests of the young man. Almost invariably she has been sold into this business illegally, has remained chaste, and is finally freed with the help of a young man and his slave.
Virgo/ meretrix
The wealthy father who wants his son to marry someone other than a prostitute
Senex
His love interest motivates the action of the play. During the course of the play he enlists the help of various characters in attaining his goal of winning his beloved.
Adulescens
Often cynical and clever, he serves as a contrast to his lovesick master. He is talkative, impudent, inquisitive, indiscrete, gossipy, and has a high opinions of himself. He is quite fond of eating and drinking and shows little respect for his elders and betters. Yet in the end he remains faithful to his master. He has two main functions: to provide humor and to supervise or assist in trickery or impersonation.
Servus
His main goal is dinner. He is lazy but also clever, and his intrepid activities help his master win the maiden he has no interest in love itself, except for the meals or money it can yield him.
Parasitus
Characterized in comedies by greed, impiety, perjury, faithfulness, and inhumanity. His boastful self-assurance is regularly undermined by his stupidity and credulity.
Leno
Who is the writer associated with old comedy?
Aristophanes
5 th century Athenian comedy represented by the 11 surviving plays of Aristophanes
Old comedy
Characteristics of old comedy
Social and political
What writer is associated with new comedy?
Menander
Characteristics of new comedy.
- arose in the 4th century
- domestic and individualistic
