Home Classical, Ancient Near Eastern & Egyptian Studies How to Start a Show: Comic Invectives in the Prologues of Terence and Decimus Laberius
Chapter
Licensed
Unlicensed Requires Authentication

How to Start a Show: Comic Invectives in the Prologues of Terence and Decimus Laberius

  • Hanna Maria Degener
Become an author with De Gruyter Brill
Explore this Subject How to publish with us
Comic Invective in Ancient Greek and Roman Oratory
This chapter is in the book Comic Invective in Ancient Greek and Roman Oratory

Abstract

This chapter examines the patterns and functions of comic invectives in the prologues of Roman theatrical performances, while also paying attention to the spectrum of possible applications of comic invectives for the captatio benevolentiae, when the aim is to win over the target audience. The prologues of two Roman theatre playwrights, Terence and Decimus Laberius, are rich in content for this purpose. Terence’s prologues can be used to trace the narratological construction of a conflict that extends over a long period of time. Decimus Laberius uses auto-invective, i.e. self-deprecation that aims to evoke an emotional reaction from the audience, by creating positive images for the invector, while scathingly criticising Caesar’s actions and presenting him as the enemy of the existing social order. The chapter, finally, proposes some answers to the question of what risk Terence and Laberius expose themselves to by using comic invective in their speeches.

Abstract

This chapter examines the patterns and functions of comic invectives in the prologues of Roman theatrical performances, while also paying attention to the spectrum of possible applications of comic invectives for the captatio benevolentiae, when the aim is to win over the target audience. The prologues of two Roman theatre playwrights, Terence and Decimus Laberius, are rich in content for this purpose. Terence’s prologues can be used to trace the narratological construction of a conflict that extends over a long period of time. Decimus Laberius uses auto-invective, i.e. self-deprecation that aims to evoke an emotional reaction from the audience, by creating positive images for the invector, while scathingly criticising Caesar’s actions and presenting him as the enemy of the existing social order. The chapter, finally, proposes some answers to the question of what risk Terence and Laberius expose themselves to by using comic invective in their speeches.

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Contents V
  3. Acknowledgements VII
  4. Killing with a Smile: Comic Invective in Greek and Roman Oratory 1
  5. Part I: Intertextual and Multi-genre Invective
  6. Comedy and Insults in the Athenian Law-courts 25
  7. Comic Invective and Public Speech in Fourth-Century Athens 43
  8. Comic Invective in Attic Forensic Oratory: Private Speeches 65
  9. Rhetorical Defence, Inter-poetic Agōn and the Reframing of Comic Invective in Plato’s Apology of Socrates 81
  10. “You are Mad!” Allegations of Insanity in Greek Comedy and Rhetoric 107
  11. Comic Invective in Cicero’s Speech Pro M. Caelio 125
  12. How to Start a Show: Comic Invectives in the Prologues of Terence and Decimus Laberius 147
  13. Part II: The Cultural Workings of Invective
  14. Comic Somatisation and the Body of Evidence in Aeschines’ Against Timarchus 171
  15. Comic Invective, Decorum and Ars in Cicero’s De Oratore 191
  16. No Decorum in the Forum? Comic Invective in the Theatre of Justice 211
  17. Part III: Invective in Ancient Socio-political Contexts
  18. Political Rhetoric and Comic Invective in Fifth-Century Athens: The Trial of the Dogs in Aristophanes’ Wasps 235
  19. Democracy, Poverty, Comic Heroism and Oratorical Strategy in Lysias 24 257
  20. Notes on Editors and Contributors 273
  21. General Index 275
  22. Index Locorum 279
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110735536-008

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Contents V
  3. Acknowledgements VII
  4. Killing with a Smile: Comic Invective in Greek and Roman Oratory 1
  5. Part I: Intertextual and Multi-genre Invective
  6. Comedy and Insults in the Athenian Law-courts 25
  7. Comic Invective and Public Speech in Fourth-Century Athens 43
  8. Comic Invective in Attic Forensic Oratory: Private Speeches 65
  9. Rhetorical Defence, Inter-poetic Agōn and the Reframing of Comic Invective in Plato’s Apology of Socrates 81
  10. “You are Mad!” Allegations of Insanity in Greek Comedy and Rhetoric 107
  11. Comic Invective in Cicero’s Speech Pro M. Caelio 125
  12. How to Start a Show: Comic Invectives in the Prologues of Terence and Decimus Laberius 147
  13. Part II: The Cultural Workings of Invective
  14. Comic Somatisation and the Body of Evidence in Aeschines’ Against Timarchus 171
  15. Comic Invective, Decorum and Ars in Cicero’s De Oratore 191
  16. No Decorum in the Forum? Comic Invective in the Theatre of Justice 211
  17. Part III: Invective in Ancient Socio-political Contexts
  18. Political Rhetoric and Comic Invective in Fifth-Century Athens: The Trial of the Dogs in Aristophanes’ Wasps 235
  19. Democracy, Poverty, Comic Heroism and Oratorical Strategy in Lysias 24 257
  20. Notes on Editors and Contributors 273
  21. General Index 275
  22. Index Locorum 279
Sign up now to receive a 20% welcome discount
Institutional Access
How does access work?
Have an idea on how to improve our website?
Please write us.
© 2025 De Gruyter Brill
Downloaded on 26.12.2025 from https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/9783110735536-008/html
Scroll to top button