Roman Writers c.275 BCE - c.110 BCE During The Era Of Senate Supremacy

Roman Writers c.275 BCE - c.110 BCE During The Era Of Senate Supremacy

Livius Adronicus, Lucius* c. 284-204 BCE He is a Greek slave from Tarentum. After he is freed he teaches school and translates Homer

into Latin. He is regarded as the founder of Roman literary drama. He becomes a dramatist, actor, director and producer. In 240 BCE he produces the first Latin adaptations of a Greek comedy and a Greek tragedy. These are put on as part of the games celebrating the end of the First Punic War. Only fragments of his work survive and even the titles are somewhat dubious. He writes both comedies and tragedies.

Naevius, Gnaeus c.? to 201 BCE His dramatic career runs from 235 BCE until his death. We have only numerous fragments and 30 titles of his works. His chief claim to fame is an epic The Punic War. He is regarded as the first to write national Roman tragedy as contrasted with adaptations of the Greek subjects. It is also possible that he starts the practice of "contamination", adapting from the Greek comedy by combining two or more plays.

In 207 BCE the College of Playwrights* is founded mainly in honor of Andronicus. This grows into the College of Poets*. A Temple of Minerva is built to house the meetings of the poets.

Ennius, Quintus 239-169 BCE Roman poet and playwright. He will be called the "Father of Latin Poetry". We have extensive fragments of his work. He comes from southern Italy and is brought to Rome by Cato the Elder. Despite his wealthy acquaintances he remaines poor and shares a house with another poet Caecilius. He is best known for an epic poem The Annals Ennius, Quintus 239-169 BCE Roman poet and playwright. He will be called the "Father of Latin Poetry". We have extensive fragments of his work. He comes from southern Italy and is brought to Rome by Cato the Elder. Despite his wealthy acquaintances he remaines poor and shares a house with another poet Caecilius. He is best known for an epic poem The Annals

Titus Maccius Plautus (c. 250-184 BCE) is born in Umbria. We know very little about him other than he is an actor, producer and dramatist, and, he makes a living from his plays. Probably this living comes from the income of his troupe of actors (grex). He bases his comedies on the Greek New Comedy of the fourth and third centuries BCE His work reveals the transformation of Latin literature by the Greeks

Plautus*' plays are set in some Greek city, often in Athens. The setting is vague and the characters, although usually with Greek names, are distinctly Roman in outlook.

His influence (together with that of Terence*) extends down through modern times either by direct imitation of particular plays or adaptations of his dramatic techniques.

We don't know how many plays Plautus* wrote and produced but over 130 are attributed to him. Twenty-one plays survive, although most of them suffer from some missing lines and puzzling constructions. The plays have complicated plots, strongly marked characters, lots of love-making, revelry, trickery, debauchery, songs, puns and topical allusions. Think of the Marx brothers and you will have a good grip on Plautus.

PLAUTUS PLAYS: THE CAPTIVES (Captivi) late 3rd century BCE THE TWIN MENAECHMI (Menaechmi) late 3rd century BCE THE BRAGGART WARRIOR (Miles Gloriosus) c. 205 BCE THE HAUNTED HOUSE (Mostellaria) early 2nd century BCE TWO SISTERS NAMED BACCHIS(Bacchides) THE POT OF GOLD(Aulularia) c. 194 BCE Pseudolus 191 BCE AMPHITRYON c. 186 BCE Cistellaria c. 204 BCE THE SAVAGE SLAVE (Truculentus) Stichus 200 BCE THE LOT-DRAWERS (Casina) Rudens [DUBIOUS: Mercator; Asinaria]

Caecilius Statius born c.239(-19) BCE, died 168 BCE. Writer of Roman comedy. He is ranked with or above Plautus* and Terence*, with forty known play titles and three hundred fragments surviving. His work is entirely adapted from the Greek New Comedy, mainly Menander.

Polybius - c.205- c.125 BCE - historian

Pacuvius, Marcus - 220 - 130 BCE - He is regarded by Cicero as the greatest tragic writer. A nephew of Ennius and fried of Accius, he is probably a member of the literary circle which includes Terence*. 400 fragments of his work survive, and he will become noted for producing unusual versions of myths.

Publius Terentius Afer ca.185-159 BCE known as TERENCE is born in Carthage and taken to Rome as the slave of a senator where he is later freed. He will be regarded as the master of Latin comedy, especially as regards literary style. His plays are based on the Greek works of Menander* and Apollodorus*.

The extant plays of TERENCE* are: THE EUNUCH (Eunuchus) 161 BCE THE WOMAN OF ANDROS (Andria) 166 BCE PHORMIO 161 BCE THE SELF-TORMENTOR THE BROTHERS (Adelphi) 160 BCE (Heauton Timorumenos) 163 BCE THE MOTHER-IN-LAW (Hecyra) 160

BCE Lucilius* - 180 BCE - 102 BCE - satirist Ten years before Plautus* dies, Terence* is born. By the time he has his first

play produced we are in a new era of entertainment. Plays are becoming more literary and another theatrical form is becoming popular.