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Title:

Time for a comic scene (Ter. An., Ht., Ph.)  
Czas na komediowej scenie (Ter. An., Ht., Ph.)

Creator:

Skwara, Ewa

Subject and Keywords:

Plautus   Terence   Roman comedy   dramatic 'time'  
Plaut   Terencjusz   komedia rzymska   'czas' dramatyczny

Abstract:

This article presents the methods used by Terence to control theatrical time, which is not identical to astronomical time (that is the actual time of the presentation). Most frequently, the comic poet strives to compress scenic time in order to accommodate events lasting a hole day within the span of a spectacle lasting 2-3 hours. To this end the poet above all avoids repetitions, and if certain information has to be forwarded to the next character, then this happens off-stage. Furthermore, the play is acted out simultaneously in two threads – one act being staged before the audience, and the other off-stage, which the audience does not actually view but is only informed of. The comic poet also shapes the speed at which events take place – most often speeding things up. He makes use of what was then a theatrical convention, which was based on the idea that time off-stage passes more quickly (characters who say they are going to the forum return from there within a few minutes). Only occasionally is the tempo of the comedy released (when the overly quick movement of a character would undermine the probability of events). These techniques have on the one hand the aim of using time economically, and on the other of making the action more gripping.

Publisher:

Instytut Studiów Klasycznych, Śródziemnomorskich i Orientalnych

Date issued:

2015

Detailed Type:

czasopisma (wydawnictwa ciągłe)

Format:

application/pdf

Identifier:

oai:repozytorium.uni.wroc.pl:79981   ISSN 0239-6661

DOI:

10.23734/WSC.2015.4.249.259

Language:

eng   pol

Rights holder:

Copyright by Ewa Skwara

wwwDescription:

Charisteria Aliciae Szastyńska-Siemion octogenariae oblata ab amicis, collegis, discipulis