Classic Roman plays. Amphitryon, The Comedy of Asses, Teh Pot of Gold, The Two Bacchises, and The Captives. According to Wikipedia, "Titus Maccius Plautus (c. 254184 BC), commonly known as Plautus, was a Roman playwright of the Old Latin period. His comedies are among the earliest surviving intact works in Latin literature. Plautus wrote around 52 plays, which were released between c. 205 and 184 BCE, of which 20 have survived, making him the most prolific ancient dramatist in terms of sur...

One of the supreme comic writers of the Roman world, Plautus (c.254-184 BC), skilfully adapted classic Greek comic models to the manners and customs of his day. This collection features a varied selection of his finest plays, from the light-hearted comedy Pseudolus, in which the lovesick Calidorus and his slave try to liberate his lover from her pimp, to the more subversive The Prisoners, which raises serious questions about the role of slavery. Also included are The Brothers Menaechmus, w...

Yale Required Reading - Collected Works (Vol. 2) gathers a commanding sequence of classical and late-antique texts that chart Roman literature's evolution from stage comedy and republican polemic to epic, satire, elegy, biography, historiography, and philosophical confession. Its stylistic range is striking: comic intrigue, forensic brilliance, lyric compression, encyclopedic narrative, stoic tragedy, caustic epigram, and searching spiritual autobiography stand beside landmarks such as the...

Classic Roman comedy. According to Wikipedia, "Titus Maccius Plautus (c. 254184 BC), commonly known as Plautus, was a Roman playwright of the Old Latin period. His comedies are among the earliest surviving intact works in Latin literature. Plautus wrote around 52 plays, which were released between c. 205 and 184 BCE, of which 20 have survived, making him the most prolific ancient dramatist in terms of surviving work. He attained such a popularity that his name alone became a hallmark of th...

Classic Roman comedy. According to Wikipedia, "Titus Maccius Plautus (c. 254184 BC), commonly known as Plautus, was a Roman playwright of the Old Latin period. His comedies are among the earliest surviving intact works in Latin literature. Plautus wrote around 52 plays, which were released between c. 205 and 184 BCE, of which 20 have survived, making him the most prolific ancient dramatist in terms of surviving work. He attained such a popularity that his name alone became a hallmark of th...

Amphitryo centers on the mythological story of the hero Amphitryon, whose wife, Alcmene, is visited by Jupiter disguised as her husband. The play explores themes of divine intervention, mistaken identity, and jealousy, with comedic confusion arising from the gods' interference in human affairs. Asinaria is a lively tale about a young man, who is in love with a woman but needs money to marry her. He enlists the help of a clever slave, who tricks his miserly father into providing the necessa...

In The Captivi, the plot centers on two main characters, Tyndarus and Antipho. Tyndarus, a captured slave, is mistaken for another man and escapes from his captors. Antipho, a young man in love, is desperate to free his father, who has been captured by pirates. The confusion of mistaken identities, typical of Plautus’ work, creates much of the comedic tension in the play.The Mostellaria revolves around a young man, Philolaches, who defies his father's strict rules and throws a party in his...

THE GREEK ORIGINALS OF THE PLAYS IN THIS VOLUME In this and each succeeding volume a summary will be given of the consensus of opinion1 regarding the Greek originals of the plays in the volume and regarding the time of presentation in Rome of Plautus’s adaptations. It may be that some general readers will be glad to have even so condensed an account of these matters as will be offered them. The original of the Amphitruo is not now thought to have been a work of the Middle Comedy but of the...

The anthology, *The Greatest Works of Roman Classical Literature*, encapsulates the grandeur and diversity that define Roman literary achievement. This collection spans a remarkable range of genres and styles, illustrating the complexity and nuance of Roman thought and expression over centuries. From the epic grandeur of Virgil to the philosophical insights of Seneca, and the satirical edge of Juvenal, these texts vividly illuminate the multifaceted nature of Roman cultural and intellectua...

Yale Classics (Vol. 2) is a magnificent compilation that immerses readers in the rich tapestry of Roman literary mastery and philosophical inquiry. The overarching themes span power, morality, fate, and the human condition, with styles ranging from poetic odes to philosophical treatises and historical narratives to satirical monologues. In this volume, timeless pieces offer an exquisite exploration of ancient thought and culture, including poignant reflections on human virtues and vices, t...

Yale Required Reading - Collected Works (Vol. 2) presents a rich tapestry of classical literature that illuminates the diversity and depth within the Roman literary canon. This anthology encompasses a wide array of themes, from the political discourse of Julius Caesar and Suetonius to the philosophical musings of Seneca and Saint Augustine. Readers will find themselves immersed in the poetic eloquence of Virgil and Horace, as well as the satirical sharpness of Juvenal and Martial. Through ...

In "The Captivi" and "The Mostellaria," Titus Maccius Plautus showcases his mastery of Roman comedic theater through the exploration of themes such as deception, identity, and societal norms. The plays utilize sharp wit and engaging dialogue, characteristic of Plautus's style, merging farcical elements with intricate character developments. "The Captivi" intricately depicts the emotional turmoil of a father searching for his son, reflecting on the knotted relationships inherent in familial...