The Comedy The Comedy of Errorsof Errors

CharactersCharacters FRAME: The Duke (Silenus), Egeon of FRAME: The Duke (Silenus), Egeon of

SyracuseSyracuse Anthipolus of Syracuse, Dromio of SyracuseAnthipolus of Syracuse, Dromio of Syracuse Antipholus of Ephesus, Dromio of EphesusAntipholus of Ephesus, Dromio of Ephesus Adriana, wife of Antipholus of EphesusAdriana, wife of Antipholus of Ephesus Luciana, Adriana’s sisterLuciana, Adriana’s sister Luce (Nell), wife to Dromio of EphesusLuce (Nell), wife to Dromio of Ephesus Courtesan (Prostitute)Courtesan (Prostitute) Dr. Pinch – School teacher/conjurerDr. Pinch – School teacher/conjurer The Abbess – nun of EphesusThe Abbess – nun of Ephesus

BackgroundBackground

Written between 1592-1594Written between 1592-1594 First documented performance was First documented performance was

December 28, 1594 at Gray’s InnDecember 28, 1594 at Gray’s Inn May have been performed earlierMay have been performed earlier One of Shakespeare’s earliest plays, and One of Shakespeare’s earliest plays, and

his shortesthis shortest

LocationsLocations Syracuse and Ephesus – Syracuse and Ephesus –

Greece, and the sea Greece, and the sea (which represents (which represents Fortune)Fortune)

Important setting: a Important setting: a combination of the combination of the ancient and the modernancient and the modern

Considered: full of Considered: full of spirits, spells and spirits, spells and madness (possibly madness (possibly sinful)sinful)

Influences for Influences for Shakespeare’s PlayShakespeare’s Play

Plautus c. 254 – 184 B.C.Plautus c. 254 – 184 B.C. Roman playwright of the Old Latin periodRoman playwright of the Old Latin period The Menaechmi or The Twin Brothers The Menaechmi or The Twin Brothers

(mistaken identity between twins of the (mistaken identity between twins of the same name)same name)

Amphitruo – (Act III: twin servants, master of Amphitruo – (Act III: twin servants, master of the house locked out while twin dines)the house locked out while twin dines)

Frame story of Emilia and Egeon – from Frame story of Emilia and Egeon – from Apollonius of TyreApollonius of Tyre

The Comedy of ErrorsThe Comedy of Errors

Considered Shakespeare’s Considered Shakespeare’s “apprenticeship” in comedy.“apprenticeship” in comedy.

Considered adolescent, bawdy and Considered adolescent, bawdy and immatureimmature

Delights audiences, but seldom draws Delights audiences, but seldom draws big time actors, as it does not have big time actors, as it does not have “deep” characters.“deep” characters.

The Classical UnitiesThe Classical UnitiesComedy of Errors Comedy of Errors imitates classical comedy.imitates classical comedy.

1- There is one main action, with few 1- There is one main action, with few subplots.subplots.

2- There is a single physical space, not 2- There is a single physical space, not compressed geography or representative compressed geography or representative of more than one place.of more than one place.

3- The play takes place in no more than 3- The play takes place in no more than 24 hours (same day).24 hours (same day).

ComedyComedy COMEDYCOMEDY (from Greek: (from Greek: komoskomos, "songs of , "songs of

merrimakers") merrimakers") In the original meaning of the word, comedy referred to In the original meaning of the word, comedy referred to

a a genregenre of drama during the Dionysian festivals of of drama during the Dionysian festivals of ancient Athens. The first comedies were loud and ancient Athens. The first comedies were loud and boisterous drunken affairs, as the word's etymology boisterous drunken affairs, as the word's etymology suggests. suggests.

Later, in medieval and Renaissance use, the word Later, in medieval and Renaissance use, the word comedycomedy came to mean any play or narrative poem in came to mean any play or narrative poem in which the main characters manage to avert an which the main characters manage to avert an impending disaster and have a happy ending. The impending disaster and have a happy ending. The comedy did not necessarily have to be funny, and comedy did not necessarily have to be funny, and indeed, many comedies are serious in tone. indeed, many comedies are serious in tone.

It is only in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries that It is only in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries that comedy's exclusive connotations of humor arose. comedy's exclusive connotations of humor arose.

Format – Format – follows a traditional formfollows a traditional form

Exposition – basic explanationExposition – basic explanation Complication – confusion/conflictComplication – confusion/conflict Climax – high point of the actionClimax – high point of the action Discovery - clarificationDiscovery - clarification Reversal of Fortune – things do a 180Reversal of Fortune – things do a 180

FarceFarce FARCEFARCE (from Latin (from Latin FarsusFarsus, "stuffed"): , "stuffed"): A farce is a form of A farce is a form of lowlow comedycomedy designed to provoke designed to provoke

laughter through highly exaggerated caricatures of laughter through highly exaggerated caricatures of people in improbable or silly situations. people in improbable or silly situations.

Traits of farce include Traits of farce include (1)(1) physical bustle such as slapstick, physical bustle such as slapstick, (2)(2) sexual misunderstandings and mix-ups, and sexual misunderstandings and mix-ups, and (3)(3) broad verbal humor such as puns. Many literary broad verbal humor such as puns. Many literary

critics (especially in the Victorian period) have tended critics (especially in the Victorian period) have tended to view farce as inferior to "high comedy" that involves to view farce as inferior to "high comedy" that involves brilliant dialogue. brilliant dialogue.

Many of Shakespeare's early works, such as Many of Shakespeare's early works, such as The The Taming of the ShrewTaming of the Shrew, are considered farces. , are considered farces.

SlapstickSlapstick

SLAPSTICK COMEDYSLAPSTICK COMEDY: Low comedy in : Low comedy in which humor depends almost entirely on which humor depends almost entirely on physical actions and sight gags. The physical actions and sight gags. The antics of the three stooges often fall into antics of the three stooges often fall into this category. this category.

Who would be examples of modern Who would be examples of modern slapstick comedians?slapstick comedians?

FrameFrame

FRAME NARRATIVEFRAME NARRATIVE: The result of inserting : The result of inserting one or more small stories within the body of a one or more small stories within the body of a larger story that encompasses the smaller larger story that encompasses the smaller ones. ones.

Often this term is used interchangeably with Often this term is used interchangeably with both the literary technique and the larger story both the literary technique and the larger story itself that contains the smaller ones, which are itself that contains the smaller ones, which are called called pericopespericopes, "framed narratives" or , "framed narratives" or "embedded narratives." The most famous "embedded narratives." The most famous example is Chaucer's example is Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.Canterbury Tales.

Word Play/PunsWord Play/Puns

Word playWord play is a literary technique in which the is a literary technique in which the words that are used become the main subject words that are used become the main subject of the work. of the work.

Puns (A play on two words similar in sound but Puns (A play on two words similar in sound but different in meaning), phonetic mix-ups such as different in meaning), phonetic mix-ups such as spoonerisms (The comic (and usually spoonerisms (The comic (and usually unintentional) transposition of two initial unintentional) transposition of two initial consonants or other sounds), obscure words consonants or other sounds), obscure words and meanings, clever rhetorical excursions, and meanings, clever rhetorical excursions, oddly formed sentences, and telling character oddly formed sentences, and telling character names are common examples of word play.names are common examples of word play.

Themes: RelationshipsThemes: Relationships

Master/ServantMaster/Servant Husband/WifeHusband/Wife Parent/ChildParent/Child Native/AlienNative/Alien Buyer/SellerBuyer/Seller Monarch/Parliament (laws)Monarch/Parliament (laws)

ThemesThemes Madness vs. SanityMadness vs. Sanity Illusion vs. RealityIllusion vs. Reality Dreaming vs. WakingDreaming vs. Waking

What are the real delusions “sane” What are the real delusions “sane” people suffer?people suffer? Contentiousness and jealousy in marriageContentiousness and jealousy in marriage Concern for appearancesConcern for appearances Being cheated (in business and love)Being cheated (in business and love)

Act I VocabularyAct I Vocabulary

Rancorous (adj.) - hatefulRancorous (adj.) - hateful Synods (n.) – assembly, councilSynods (n.) – assembly, council Hap (n.) – fortune, lotHap (n.) – fortune, lot Factor (n.) - brokerFactor (n.) - broker Meaner (adj.) – lower rankingMeaner (adj.) – lower ranking Burthen (n.) - burden Burthen (n.) - burden Meanly (adv.) – in no small degreeMeanly (adv.) – in no small degree

Act I , scene i and ii Act I , scene i and ii VocabularyVocabulary

Importune (v.) – Beg, ask persistentlyImportune (v.) – Beg, ask persistently Reft (adj.) – Robbed, deprivedReft (adj.) – Robbed, deprived Hapless (adj.) – UnluckyHapless (adj.) – Unlucky Wend (v.) – DirectWend (v.) – Direct Mean (n.) – Way/methodMean (n.) – Way/method Villain (n.) - ServantVillain (n.) - Servant Content (n.) – Pleasure/satisfactionContent (n.) – Pleasure/satisfaction

Act I, scene ii VocabularyAct I, scene ii Vocabulary

Capon (n.) - ChickenCapon (n.) - Chicken Dally (v.) – Deal lightly, tease, play aboutDally (v.) – Deal lightly, tease, play about Pate (n.) - HeadPate (n.) - Head Maw (n.) – Belly/stomachMaw (n.) – Belly/stomach Knave (n.) – Scoundrel, rascal, rogue, servant, Knave (n.) – Scoundrel, rascal, rogue, servant,

lackeylackey Sconce (n.) - HeadSconce (n.) - Head Flout (v.)– Insult, jibe, taunt Flout (v.)– Insult, jibe, taunt An - ifAn - if