Menander Biography
Early Life as well as Birth
Menander was birthed around 342 BCE in the deme of Kephisia, a suburb of Athens in old Greece. He was the kid of well-to-do moms and dads; his papa, Diopeithes, was a basic, as well as his mom, Hegesistrata, belonged to a significant family. Menander's blessed childhood allowed him to obtain a superb education, and also he matured to become one of the leading comic poets and playwrights of Ancient Greece.
Menander's Mentor as well as Inspirations
As a boy, Menander was fortunate adequate to research under the philosopher
Theophrastus, who was a pupil as well as successor of
Aristotle. Menander's organization with
Theophrastus influenced lots of elements of his works, including their thoughtful outlook and also their ornate design. Throughout his education, he was likewise exposed to the works of the fantastic playwrights
Euripides and also
Aristophanes, both of whom heavily affected Menander's own dramatic style.
The Rise of New Comedy
Menander is considered the leading number of New Comedy, a category that emerged in the late 4th century BCE, succeeding the Old as well as Middle Comedy of
Aristophanes as well as others. New Comedy differed from its predecessors by concentrating mainly on social problems and also daily life, rather than national politics or mythical themes. It commonly satirized the allegations and recklessness of the recently arising middle course, as well as the standard upper class. Menander's works were very significant in the advancement of this genre and also were admired for their wit, honest understanding, as well as proficiency of language and type.
Menander's Masterpieces
Throughout his life, Menander wrote over 100 plays, of which just a little portion has actually endured. One of the primary reasons for the loss of Menander's works is the reality that most of his plays were never ever duplicated as well as transmitted via the ages as they were created on subject to spoiling papyrus scrolls.
Nonetheless, the ones that have made it through, either partially or fully, are thought about masterpieces of ancient Greek funny. One of his most renowned enduring jobs is the play Dyskolos or The Grouch. It was found in Egypt throughout the early 20th century and remains one of the best-preserved plays from classical times. The play tells the tale of the difficult love scenario in between the daughter of a misanthropic farmer as well as a young nobleman.
Most of Menander's plays focus on the makeover in the lives of the ethical and intellectual shortcomings of the Athenians. Some other significant jobs include those that have actually been partly recuperated or transmitted in fragmentary form, such as Aspis (The Shield), Perikeiromene (The Shorn Girl), and Samia (The Woman from Samos).
Menander's Legacy
Menander's influence has been immense, not just in Ancient Greece however additionally in Roman times as well as past. Roman playwrights
Plautus as well as
Terence both adapted much of Menander's plays into Latin, which additionally cemented the style's appeal. His plays were also a significant impact on the later Latin writers, including
Horace as well as
Seneca.
Menander's job has left a long-term impact on the advancement of European drama, specifically in the world of situation comedy or situational funnies, as well as most of the supply characters, scenarios, and also comic tools of modern-day drama can be traced back to his work.
Menander died around 292 BCE, probably in Athens. The situations of his fatality stay an enigma, with some accounts specifying that he sank in the harbor of Piraeus while trying to conserve a buddy. Despite the loss of a considerable part of his work, Menander remains one of one of the most significant numbers in the background of funny as well as world drama because of his ground-breaking contributions to the New Comedy as well as his immense impact on future generations of dramatic writers.
Our collection contains 16 quotes who is written / told by Menander, under the main topics:
Words of Wisdom -
Men.
Related authors: Euripides (Poet), Aristotle (Philosopher), Terence (Playwright), Seneca (Philosopher), Philo (Philosopher), Horace (Poet), Plautus (Playwright), Seneca the Younger (Statesman), Antiphanes (Writer), Aristophanes (Poet)
Menander Famous Works:
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