Die invloed van die Plautiniese klug op die moderne klug

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:The present thesis deals with the impact of the ancient Greek farce on modemliterature with specific reference to the play Kinkels innie Kabel (1971) by thecontemporary Afrikaans author André P. Brink. This play is loosely based onShakespeare's The Comedy of Errors, which in tum derives from Plautus'Menaechmi. Brink's play thus resonates with an entire European tradition.The relationship between the modem and the ancient farce is studied with reference tothe concept of comedy. Comic effects, the difference between comedy and tragedy inrespect of the handling of vital issues and the comic vision of the playwright are alltaken into account. The analysis of the development of Athenian Old Comedy to theRoman Comedy refers to the contribution of Plautus and Terence to the continuationand revitalisation of Greek New Comedy. A comparison of these two playwrightsreveals the characteristics of the farce and the difference between farce and comedy.The modem relevance of the farce is studied on the basis of Brink's text. For thispurpose Plautus' original plot, the Shakespearian version and Brink's rendition arediscussed and compared. On the basis of the similarities and differences in plot,caricaturisation, misidentifications, politics, fantasy, coincidence, irony, farcicalviolence, mechanical structure, temporal structure and linguistic register, the influenceof the ancient farce on its modem counterpart is demonstrated. In addition to farce,Brink employs the classical devices of satire and parody to drive home his (political)message. Finally it is shown that the farcical in Plautus, Shakespeare and Brink servesa significant and serious thematic purpose.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University