Week 4

Question 1

What is komoidia?

Answer 1

Comedy

Question 2

What is komos?

Answer 2

Dance at drinking parties

Question 3

What is Dithyramb?

Answer 3

Song in honour of the god Dionysos

Question 4

What were the topics covered in old comedy?

Answer 4

Politics, economics, social, and cultural life of the city
- mythological figures appear as characters

Question 5

Who were the two writers credited for old comedy?

Answer 5

Crates and Pherecrates

Question 6

Who is Aristophanes?

Answer 6

An old comedic writer with only 11 of his comedies complete

Question 7

Characteristics of middle comedy?

Answer 7

Myth rationalized and placed in a domestic comedy
- political and economic issues a key theme
- comedies featured private affairs

Question 8

Common characters in middle comedy?

Answer 8

Hetairai, pornoboskoi, slaves, parasites, and cooks

Question 9

Who was most known for middle comedy?

Answer 9

Alexis from Thurii, also anticipated plots, themes, and characters of New Comedy

Question 10

Characteristics of new comedy?

Answer 10

5 acts, decency in costume, ordinary human affairs

Question 11

What is a menander?

Answer 11

Type of character in new comedy, a bad-tempered man