About this Video

• Video Title: Roman Theater with Plautus, Terence, and Seneca: Crash Course Theater #6
• Channel: CrashCourse
• Speakers: Mike Rugnetta
• Duration: 00:11:58

Introduction

This Crash Course Theater episode explores surviving Roman drama literature, focusing on comedic playwrights Plautus and Terence, and the tragedian Seneca the Younger. The video examines their styles, influences, and the societal contexts that shaped their works.

Key Takeaways

• Roman Comedy: Roman comedies, particularly those of Plautus and Terence, borrowed heavily from Greek originals (Menander) and incorporated elements of Atellan Farce. They featured stock characters (adulescens, virgo, meretrix, senex, servus, etc.) and stock plots (thwarted lovers, parental conflict, mistaken identity). Plautus's comedies were energetic and musical, while Terence's were more sophisticated and subtle.
• Plautus: Plautus (254-184 BCE) was a prolific playwright whose 20 surviving plays showcase rambunctious comedies, often incorporating song and puns. His works significantly influenced medieval and Renaissance writers, including Shakespeare (Comedy of Errors).
• Terence: Terence (c. 185-159 BCE), possibly the first playwright of color, wrote six plays that drew heavily from Menander. His style was more refined than Plautus', with deeper ironies and more developed characters.
• Seneca the Younger: Seneca (4 BCE-65 CE) wrote tragedies, mostly revisions of Greek works. His plays were notable for their five-act structure, darker tone reflecting the violent realities of Roman society under emperors like Nero, and their focus on graphic violence typically omitted in Greek tragedies. Debate exists on whether Seneca's plays were intended for stage performance or private reading.

This Crash Course Theater episode delves into Roman drama, examining the works of three key figures: Plautus, Terence, and Seneca the Younger.

I. Roman Comedy (Plautus & Terence):

The video begins by contrasting the popular image of Roman life (naval battles, etc.) with its theatrical side. It introduces Roman comedy, largely based on Greek models (Menander), particularly the "fabulae palliatae." These comedies employed stock characters (young lovers, grumpy fathers, wily slaves, etc.) and plots (mistaken identities, thwarted love).

• Plautus: Known for his energetic, rambunctious comedies filled with puns, songs, and alliterations, many of his plays survived (20 are definitively attributed to him). His influence is evident in later works like Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors. The video uses The Menaechmi as an example, highlighting its reliance on mistaken identity and absurd situations.

• Terence: Possibly the first playwright of color, Terence's comedies are more refined and sophisticated than Plautus', borrowing heavily from Menander. His plays feature less raucous humor but more intricate irony and better-developed characters. The video notes that he did not include prologues that spoiled the plot, unlike Plautus and Menander.

II. Roman Tragedy (Seneca the Younger):

The video shifts to Roman tragedy, focusing primarily on Seneca the Younger. His plays, primarily adaptations of Greek tragedies, are noteworthy for their five-act structure (influencing Shakespeare) and their unflinching portrayal of graphic violence.

• Seneca's Life and Works: The video details Seneca's tumultuous life under various Roman emperors, highlighting his near-execution and banishment. His plays, often dark and pessimistic, reflect the violent and unstable political climate of his time. The video raises the question of whether these plays were meant for performance or private reading, considering the extreme violence depicted. The video concludes by emphasizing the stark contrast between the comedic works of Plautus and Terence and the darker, more violent themes present in Seneca's tragedies. The episode ends with a preview of a future episode about Sanskrit theater.