Terence

Terence PDF

Author: Terence

Publisher: Aris and Phillips Classical Te

Published: 2012

Total Pages: 233

ISBN-13: 0856686069

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Terence's Phormio, based on a Greek original by Apollodorus of Carystus, was produced towards the end of his short dramatic career in 161 BC. With its lively action, based on the traditional elements of love, deception and mistaken identity, the play provides an ideal introduction to the genre of New Comedy. What makes the Phormio unique amongst Terence's works is the central importance of the witty and scheming parasite who gives his name to the play and directs and controls its action throughout, even when absent from the stage. The use of the "double" plot with its two young men in love and two contrasting fathers provides ample scope for depth and variety of characterisation. The aim of the present edition is to bring out to the full Terence's skill in plot development and character portrayal which was to make the Phormio one of his most entertaining plays. Latin text with facing-page translation, introduction and commentary.

Terence: Phormio. The mother-in-law. The brothers

Terence: Phormio. The mother-in-law. The brothers PDF

Author: Terence

Publisher:

Published: 1920

Total Pages: 344

ISBN-13:

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TERENCE (Publius Terentius Afer, c. 195-159 B.C.), was a north African of Carthage. He was brought to Rome as a household slave of the Roman Terentius Lucanus, who had him educated and freed. Terence was then admitted to the society of Roman nobles who liked literature; for them chiefly he composed six Latin comedies (based on Greek models), all of which are extant. Gifted with an intimate knowledge of human nature, but preferring the kindly to the cruel, he presents us, in polished poetry, with loving parents and children, gentle masters, and faithful slaves, well suited to the Roman circle for which he was writing. Even where social behavior is not high, there is refinement and subtle humour. At least one of the plays has a very modern look. Indeed none of them is specially related to his own time; all however are meant to reproduce life as presented by playwrights of the 'New Comedy' (especially Menander) at Athens about a century earlier.