Nonsense and meaning in ancient Greek comedy / by Stephen E. Kidd.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Kidd, Stephen E., 1980- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Greek drama (Comedy)--History and criticism.

Greek drama (Comedy).

Greek language--Semantics.

Greek language.

Greek wit and humor--History and criticism.

Greek wit and humor.

Meaning (Psychology).

Wit and humor--Social aspects.

Wit and humor.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (vi, 208 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Other Title:

Nonsense & Meaning in Ancient Greek Comedy

Place of Publication:

Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 2014.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

This book examines the concept of 'nonsense' in ancient Greek thought and uses it to explore the comedies of the fifth and fourth centuries BCE. If 'nonsense' (phluaria, lēros) is a type of language felt to be unworthy of interpretation, it can help to define certain aspects of comedy that have proved difficult to grasp. Not least is the recurrent perception that although the comic genre can be meaningful (i.e. contain political opinions, moral sentiments and aesthetic tastes), some of it is just 'foolery' or 'fun'. But what exactly is this 'foolery', this part of comedy which allegedly lies beyond the scope of serious interpretation? The answer is to be found in the concept of 'nonsense': by examining the ways in which comedy does not mean, the genre's relationship to serious meaning (whether it be political, aesthetic, or moral) can be viewed in a clearer light.

Contents:

Introduction

Greek notions of nonsense

Nonsense as "no-reference": riddles, allegories, metaphors

Nonsense as "no-serious-sense": the case of Cinesias

Nonsense as "no-sense": jokes, puns, and language play

Playing it straight: the "nonsense!" accusations of Greek comedy

Conclusions.

Notes:

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 05 Oct 2015).

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

1-139-99058-6

1-316-01119-4

1-139-98597-3

1-316-01343-X

1-107-27932-1

1-316-00669-7

1-316-00219-5

1-316-00893-2

1-316-00443-0

OCLC:

881165653