Classics 2902 Midterm Exam Questions with
Correct Answers
what were the 4 humours developed by Galen?
- yellow bile
- black bile
- phlegm
- blood
why did the ancients think people were funny?
they had an imbalance of fluids in their body, especially the parasites
Who is Thersites?
ugliest man in the world bc he's deformed, even tho he's a war hero who we should be
sympathetic to
they thought that by laughing at him, they could change him
why did the ancients think laughing at people was good?
bc you could change their behaviour and teach them a moral lesson
eg. Dyskolos falling into a well, 2 slaves laughing at him, means that you acnnot opt out of
society, it's bad for the fabric and strength of the community
where/who did the ancients think humour resided in?
both situations and characters
what situations did humour commonly come out of?
, eating
bc parasite flatters the quack
the quack likes being flattered, likes posing, and likes acting as if he knows more information
than he does (or is being boastful)
the quack needs an ironist to burst his bubble
what does the greek word "parasite" mean?
someone who sits beside you
what are some of the stock characters we should know in comedy?
parasite
quack (alazon)
busybody
bully
sycophant
gossip
babbler
what is the parasite like?
means someone who sits beside you
just someone who wants something for free
will flatter you to get it
and it works, there's always some rich fool who wants someone around him
what is the alazon/quack like?
Correct Answers
what were the 4 humours developed by Galen?
- yellow bile
- black bile
- phlegm
- blood
why did the ancients think people were funny?
they had an imbalance of fluids in their body, especially the parasites
Who is Thersites?
ugliest man in the world bc he's deformed, even tho he's a war hero who we should be
sympathetic to
they thought that by laughing at him, they could change him
why did the ancients think laughing at people was good?
bc you could change their behaviour and teach them a moral lesson
eg. Dyskolos falling into a well, 2 slaves laughing at him, means that you acnnot opt out of
society, it's bad for the fabric and strength of the community
where/who did the ancients think humour resided in?
both situations and characters
what situations did humour commonly come out of?
, eating
bc parasite flatters the quack
the quack likes being flattered, likes posing, and likes acting as if he knows more information
than he does (or is being boastful)
the quack needs an ironist to burst his bubble
what does the greek word "parasite" mean?
someone who sits beside you
what are some of the stock characters we should know in comedy?
parasite
quack (alazon)
busybody
bully
sycophant
gossip
babbler
what is the parasite like?
means someone who sits beside you
just someone who wants something for free
will flatter you to get it
and it works, there's always some rich fool who wants someone around him
what is the alazon/quack like?
