Menaechmi
by Plautus
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Menaechmi is one of Plautus' liveliest and most entertaining comedies, the main inspiration for Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors. Dr Gratwick's edition brings new light to bear on the interpretation of the play and on Plautus' place in the development of European comedy. Central to his treatment is the fact that Plautus was a dramatist who wrote to be heard rather than to be read. The various metres which he subtly and flexibly exploited for musical and dramatic effect are here explained show more in a way that challenges many received views but also offers the student practical assistance in grappling with the technical problems involved both on stage and in performance. The text has been newly constituted on the basis of a complete reappraisal of the manuscript tradition in the light of scholarship since the Renaissance. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
Shakespeare had extremely good taste to pick this piece for the basis of one of his works. It works well in its own right -- clever and amusing.
Edition: // Descr: // Series: Call No. { 872 P69 16 } Edited by J. Brix. // //
Edition: // Descr: iv, 213 p. 18.5 cm. // Series: The Students' Series of Latin Classics Call No. { 872 P69 17 } Edited on the Basis of Brix's Edition by Harold North Fowler // //
Edition: // Descr: iv, 213 p. 18.5 cm. // Series: The Student's Series of Latin Classics Call No. { 872 P69 17 copy #2 } Edited on the Basis of Brix's Edition by Harold North Fowler Contains Notes and Appendix. // //
Edition: // Descr: vii, 131 p. 21 cm. // Series: Call No. { } Edited, with Introduction and Notes by Nicholas Moseley and Mason Hammond Introduction and Index are in English Text is in Latin. // John E. Rexine Library Donation //
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Plautus and Terence used stock characters (the young lovers, the clever slave, the irate father) and devices (mistaken identity), but each handled these conventions in his own distinct manner. Plautus was the son of a poor Umbrian farmer who may have fought in the Second Punic War. The playwright Plautus is said to have been a popular actor, true show more comedian, jovial, tolerant, rough of humor. He not only modeled his plays on the Greek New Comedy, but unhesitatingly inserted long passages translated from the Greek originals. He was the master of comic irony and, as its originator, copied by Moliere, Corneille, Jonson, Dryden and Fielding. Shakespeare based his Comedy of Errors on Plautus's Menaechmi. Of more than 100 plays, 21 survive. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Menaechmi
- Alternate titles
- The Brothers Menaechmus; The Two Menaechmuses
- People/Characters
- Peniculus; Menaechmus I; Menaechmus II; Messenio; Erotium; Cylindrus
- Important places
- Epidamnus
- Important events
- Classical Antiquity
- Original language*
- Latein
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.
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- Members
- 340
- Popularity
- 93,228
- Reviews
- 6
- Rating
- (2.81)
- Languages
- Dutch, English, Italian, Latin
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 19
- ASINs
- 9
