What is New Comedy and Old Comedy in literature?
Definition: New Comedy and Old Comedy are two distinct genres of ancient Greek comedy. Old Comedy refers to a type of comedy that was popular in Athens from the 5th century BC until the end of the 4th century BC. New Comedy refers to a type of comedy that emerged in the late 4th century BC and was popular in Athens until the 3rd century BC.
Old Comedy was characterized by its political and social satire, often targeting prominent individuals and institutions in Athens. It featured a chorus and individual actors who played stock characters, including politicians, philosophers, and other public figures. Aristophanes was a prominent writer of Old Comedy, with works such as “The Clouds” and “Lysistrata.”
New Comedy, on the other hand, was characterized by its focus on everyday life and domestic situations, rather than political satire. It featured individual actors who played more complex characters and often dealt with issues such as love, family, and social class. Menander was a prominent writer of New Comedy, with works such as “The Grouch” and “The Girl from Samos.”
Examples of New Comedy and Old Comedy:
In Aristophanes’ Old Comedy play “The Frogs,” the god Dionysus travels to the underworld to bring back the playwright Euripides, in order to restore Athens’ cultural vitality. The play is known for its biting satire of Athenian society and politics, and features a chorus, stock characters, and farcical elements.
In Menander’s New Comedy play “The Grouch,” an old man named Knemon is forced to take in a young couple who have come to live on his property. The play explores themes of love, family, and social class, and features more complex characters and situations than Old Comedy.
