Theatrum Arbitri: Theatrical Elements in the Satyrica of Petronius

Description

Theatrum Arbitri is a literary study dealing with the possible influence of Roman comic drama (comedies of Plautus and Terence, theatre of the Greek and Roman mimes, and fabula Atellana) on the surviving fragments of Petronius' Satyrica. The theatrical assessment of this novel is carried out at the levels of plot-construction, characterization, language, and reading of the text as if it were the narrative equivalent of a farcical staged piece with the theatrical structure of a play produced before an audience. The analysis follows the order of each of the scenes in the novel. The reader will also find a brief general commentary on the less discussed scenes of the Satyrica, and a comprehensive account of the theatre of the mimes and its main features. THEATRUM ARBITRI: THEATRICAL ELEMENTS IN THE SATYRICA OF PETRONIUS CONTENTS Preface Introduction I. Mimus imitatio vita II. Fere totus mundus ex Arbitri nostri sententia mimum videtur implere 1. The adventures at the school of rhetoric and at the brothel I. Tamquam scholastici: Sat. 1.1-5.1.1-22 II Rixa inter zelotypos et amasiunculos: Sat. 6.1-11.4 2. The adventure of the stolen tunic and Quartilla's orgy I. Tunicularia: Sat. 12.1-15.9 II. Mimicae nuptiae: Sat. 16.1-26.6 3. Spectaculum Trimalchionis I. Convivia Poetarum et Philosophorum II. Principium cenae: Sat. 26.7-31.2 III. Gustatio: Sat. 31.3-33.2 IV. Repositorium cum corbe: Sat. 3 3 .3-3 4. 10 V. Repositorium cum duodecim signis: Sat. 35.1-39.15 VI. Aper pilleatus: Sat. 40.1-47.7 VII. Porcus Troianus: Sat. 47.8-59.5 VIII. Vitulus galleatus: Sat. 5 9. 6--64 .13 IX. Matteae: Sat. 65.1-67.13 X. Secundae mensae: Sat. 68.1-69.5 XI. Epidipnis: Sat. 69.6--78.8 4. Unfaithful lovers and manic poetasters I. Encolpius et Ascyltus rixantur de Gitone: Sat. 79.1-82.6 II. In pinacotheca: Sat. 83.1-90.7 5. An adultery-mime I. Fabula inter amantes: Sat. 91.1-96.7 II. Mimicum moechimonium: Sat. 97.1-99.4 6. The adventures on board Lichas' ship and on the way to Croton I. Mimicum nal!fragium: Sat. 99.5- 115.20 II. Dwes Fugi,tivus: Sat. 116. 1-125.4 7. The adventures at Croton I. Po/yaenon Circe amat: Sat. 126.1-130.8 II. Impotentia scaenam desiderat: Sat. 131.1-139.5 III. lygesiaca sacra: Sat. 140.1-11 IV. Mimica mors: Sat. 140.12-141.11 8. Conclusion Grex agi,t in scaena mimum Bibliography Index of passages General index