Funny Words in Plautine ComedyPlautus, Rome's earliest extant poet, was acclaimed by ancient critics above all for his mastery of language and his felicitous jokes; and yet in modern times relatively little attention has been devoted to elucidating these elements fully. In Funny Words in Plautine Comedy, Michael Fontaine reassesses some of the premises and nature of Plautus' comedies. Mixing textual and literary criticism, Fontaine argues that many of Plautus' jokes and puns were misunderstood already in antiquity, and that with them the names and identities of some familiar characters were misconceived. Central to his study are issues of Plautine language, style, psychology, coherence of characterization, and irony. By examining the comedian's tendency to make up and misuse words, Fontaine sheds new light on the close connection between Greek and Roman comedy. Considerable attention is also paid to Plautus' audience and to the visual elements in his plays. The result is a reappraisal that will challenge many received views of Plautus, positioning him as a poet writing in the Hellenistic tradition for a knowledgeable and sophisticated audience. All quotations from Latin, Greek, and other foreign languages are translated. Extensive indices, including a "pundex," facilitate ease of reference among the many jokes and plays on words discussed in the text. |
Contents
1 Verba Perplexabilia | 3 |
2 Parapraxis and Parechesis | 37 |
3 Equivocation and Other Ambiguities | 91 |
4 Innuendo and the Audience | 149 |
5 Double Entendre | 201 |
6 Conclusion | 249 |
Bibliography | 257 |
| 271 | |
| 283 | |
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Common terms and phrases
actually adulescens alludes allusion already ambiguity announces answer appears argue attested audience begins called certainly chapter characters comedy cook correct course courtesan direct discussion diVerent double entendre earlier epigram equivocation Ergasilus etymology evidence example expect explains facetious fact familiar funny Gelasimus give Gratwick Greek hand implying indicates instance interpretation involve ironic joke language later Latin least letters look meaning meant merely mihi monologue naturally noun original parallel parasite passage Penicylus perhaps Persa phrase Plautine Plautus play possible probably prologue Pseudylus puns question quid quoted reason refers remark repetition Roman Saturio scene Sceparnio scholars seems sense similar slave slip speaker speaking spelling suggest tells Terence term tongue Tranio translation Truc turn usually verb verbal verse word Wrst young