Roman Comedy

3 units

The plays of Plautus and Terence are both incomparable sources for Roman cultural values and central documents in the history of Latin literature and European theater. In this course we will read together four plays: two of Plautus and two of Terence. In addition to issues raised by the individual plays, we will discuss various broader questions surrounding Roman comedy, including its relationship to its Greek predecessors, its connection with Republican Roman society and ideology, and aspects of performance. Prerequisites: Graduate standing in Classics or permission of the instructor.