Jokes in Greek Comedy: From Puns to Poetics

This book explores the serious side of ancient Greek comedy, arguing that jokes are a site of poetic experimentation and share a kinship with poetry as modes of utterance that challenge the rules of ordinary speech. It demonstrates that jokes amplify the impossible and defamiliarizing qualities of standard poetic practice, revealing the fundamental ridiculousness of treating make-believe as a serious endeavour.

Format: Hardback
Length: 192 pages
Publication date: 19 October 2023
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

In the realm of ancient Greek comedy, nothing ever remains merely a jest. This book treats jokes with the utmost seriousness they deserve, revealing that far from being mere superficial phenomena, jokes in Greek comedy are a realm of poetic experimentation that rivals the creative force of serious literature. By examining the fragments of authors such as Cratinus, Pherecrates, and Archippus alongside the extant plays of Aristophanes, Naomi Scott makes a compelling argument that jokes hold a crucial role in the comedic engagement with language and convention of poetic representation. Moreover, she suggests that jokes and poetry share a profound kinship as two modes of utterance that deliberately defy the rules of ordinary speech.

Beginning with bad puns and encompassing crude slapstick, vulgar innuendo, and frivolous absurdism, Jokes in Greek Comedy showcases the profound impact of seemingly inconsequential jokes on the impossible and defamiliarizing qualities of standard poetic practice. These jokes amplify the ridiculousness of treating make-believe as a serious endeavor, revealing the fundamental absurdity of attempting to represent reality through language, particularly poetic language.

In this way, jokes form an integral part of Greek comedy's contestation of the role of language, particularly poetic language, in the truthful representation of reality. By delving into the world of jokes, this book offers a fresh perspective on the comedic genre and its profound exploration of the human condition. It demonstrates that even in the realm of laughter, there is room for serious thought and reflection, as jokes challenge our assumptions, provoke our laughter, and ultimately reveal the inherent ridiculousness of our existence.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350248489