Laughter on the Fringes - The Reception of Old Comedy in the Imperial Greek World

This book examines the reception of Athenian Old Comedy by Greek writers of the imperial era. It explores how the major authors of this period (Plutarch, Aelius Aristides, Lucian, Alciphron, and Libanius) adopted aspects of the genre to negotiate power struggles, facilitate rivalries, and provide a model for autobiographical writing.

List of contents

• Acknowledgments


• Note to the Reader


• Introduction


• Chapter One. A Problematic Genre: Plutarch


• Chapter Two. Between Plato and the Gods: Aelius Aristides on Old Comedy


• Chapter Three. Old Comedy Revived: Lucian's Fisherman and Double Indictment


• Chapter Four. Lucian's Prolaliai and the Dynamics of Competition


• Chapter Five. Old Comedy Transformed: Libanius and the Fourth Century


• Epilogue


• Bibliography


• Index


• Index Locorum

About the author

Anna Peterson is Assistant Professor of Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies at Penn State University. Her research focuses on Greek literature of the Imperial era with an emphasis on comedy and Lucian. She has authored several articles on Lucian's dialogues and his reception.

Summary

This book examines the reception of Athenian Old Comedy by Greek writers of the imperial era. It explores how the major authors of this period (Plutarch, Aelius Aristides, Lucian, Alciphron, and Libanius) adopted aspects of the genre to negotiate power struggles, facilitate rivalries, and provide a model for autobiographical writing.

Additional text

[Peterson's] learned book will be valuable to all scholars interested in the classical tradition. ... Summing up: Recommended

Product details

• Authors: Anna Peterson, Anna (Assistant Professor of Classics an Peterson, Anna (Assistant Professor of Classics and Mediterranean Studies Peterson, Peterson Anna
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 30.04.2019
• EAN: 9780190697099
• ISBN: 978-0-19-069709-9
• No. of pages: 240
• Subjects: Fiction > Poetry, drama; Humanities, art, music > Linguistics and literary studies > English linguistics / literary studies; DRAMA / Ancient & Classical, HISTORY / Ancient / Greece, Classical texts, Literary studies: plays & playwrights, Ancient (Classical) Greek, Classic and pre-20th century plays, Literary studies: plays and playwrights