The Origin of Attic Comedy

Laurence Professor of Ancient Philosophy Francis Macdonald Cornford (1874–1943)investigates the origin of Attic Comedy.

Francis MacDonald Cornford (Author)

9780521182072, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 17 February 2011

266 pages
21.6 x 14 x 1.5 cm, 0.34 kg

The Origin of Attic Comedy was originally published in 1934. Its author, Francis Macdonald Cornford (1874–1943), was Laurence Professor of Ancient Philosophy and a fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge. Beginning with Aristotle's observation that from the earliest stage Attic Comedy had 'certain definite forms', Cornford shows that these forms are clearly observable in the plays of Aristophanes and that they derived from a ritual drama common to both tragedy and comedy. Cornford was surprised by his own conclusions and his enquiries led him far from his original view that Aristophanic Comedy was composed of loosely connected and foreign sources. Combining a close examination of the eleven extant plays of Aristophanes and a broad treatment of the relationship between tragedy and comedy, this book will continue to merit review as a robust study of the origins of ancient Greek comedy.

1. Introductory
2. The exodos
3. The phallic songs
4. Some types of dramatic fertility ritual
5. Agon, sacrifice, and feast
6. The chorus in Agon and Parabasis
7. The impostor
8. The stock masks of the old comedy
9. Comedy and tragedy
Synopsis of the extant plays
Bibliography
Addenda
Index.

Subject Areas: Classical history / classical civilisation [HBLA1]