Literature and History

Episode 37: The New Comedy (Menander's Old Cantankerous)

14 snips
Mar 3, 2017
Delve into Menander's New Comedy with a cantankerous old man, complex family dynamics, and the evolution of theater. Explore the rise of Thebes, the conquests of Alexander the Great, and the legacy of his turbulent reign. Anticipation for the epic tale of Jason and the Argonauts adds to the intrigue.
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INSIGHT

New Comedy's Plot Innovation

  • Menander's New Comedy introduced complex plots with everyday characters.
  • This was a major shift from traditional Greek plays which used legendary figures and known endings.
INSIGHT

Setting and Themes of Old Cantankerous

  • Menander's play is set around a small village with neighbors estranged but linked by family.
  • The play begins by the god Pan introducing the characters and setting the stage for comedic events.
INSIGHT

Theban Victory Over Sparta

  • The Theban army's innovative tactics and the sacred band of male lovers defeated the formidable Spartan infantry.
  • This marked the first recorded land defeat of Sparta in battle history.
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