Plautus.doc 11/9/09

Plautus CREATEDATE 11/9/09 11:17 AM Terms: blocking figure/agelast, durus pater, servus callidus Communicating anxiety ? slaves gather power Romans find it ridiculous ? comedy ?this would never happen? Blocking figure ? tries to keep the plot from working out like the primary character wants it to work out Agelast ? person who stops laughter (Simo) Should we be siding with anyone in the play? What do we want to happen? We want the slave, Pseudolus, to succeed. We want Calidorus to get his girlfriend. Durus pater- harsh, stern father ? not a realistic father (Simo) Servus callidus ? clever slave (Pseudolus) Calidorus is a stereotype ? falls in love with a prostitute Costumes Actors wore everyday Greek clothing Certain colors, accessories associated with particular character types Exaggerated masks Typical features Predictable plot features The slave?s comedy Comedy of Fortune ? unexpected events keep happening Comedy of recognition Character types Young lover Straitlaced father Socially inappropriate beloved Wily slave Braggart soldier Technical aspects Meter Language Use of Greek models Assimilates dramatic conventions, typical characters loses dramatic consistency, psychological development, realism, motivation, nuance, characterization Metaheater Centrality of slave figure (poet?) Plot structures Reversal of values Recording of values Distancing of action Amorality Social conformity and nonconformity Characters? aims express or violate core Roman values Loyalty (fides) Dutifulness (pietas) ? one shows correct behavior to parents or the gods Consistency of behavior (Constantia) Gratitude for benefits received gratia) Conflict and resolution in plots Father?s authority Rights of youthful lover vs. repressive parent excessively lenient parent Social harmony through kinship bonds ? some kind of resolution ? restoring a relationship ? bringing back some harmony Temporary abolition of convention, inversion of mores Blocking figure (agelast)