Aristophanes Research Paper

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Aristophanes Throughout the course of humanity, there has always been important figures that help shape the history we know today. Writers have deeply influenced the knowledge we have from our past. From ancient times we refer to these great writers for mastery crafts. Aristophanes, the greatest writer of Ancient Greek comedy is the sole survivor of the Old Comedy. His comedies are the only complete plays that still exist today allowing historians to study Athenian life at its most interesting period (Berkowitz). To begin with, the influential comic writer was born in Athens, Greece around 450 B.C. Although very little is known about his early life, it is obvious that he was well educated due to his reference to many sources (Magill). Aristophanes literary talent became apparent at a very young age. Between 17-23 years old Aristophanes started participating in playwright festivals in Athens such as the Dionysia and Lenaea festivals. These festivals were largely devoted to comedies and tragedies (Magill). Aristophanes wrote comedies and entered them in these competitions, his first …show more content…
Aristophanes comedies provide our best picture of Athenian life filled with some of the earliest and best examples of political and social satire (Berkowitz). His career also coincided with the Peloponnesian War forming the backdrop of many of his surviving major works (Walsh). Plays such as “Peace,” demonstrate Aristophanes opposition to the contribution of the war. His plays appear to voice cautionary, even conservative views and have been seen as an “unofficial opposition” (Sienkcewicz). His plays combine fantasy, rollicking wit, and graceful lyrics with serious criticism of politics, manners, education, music and literature (Berkowitz), revealing his deep interest in public affairs making him not only a great comic writer but also a historical
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