Abstract:
In this paper, I focus on four Hellenistic scholars who worked on ancient comedy in the 4th and 3rd century bce: Chamaeleon, Lycophron, Euphronius, and Eratosthenes. My aim is, on the one hand, to highlight the difficulties associated with analysing their fragments. On the other hand, I suggest that these scholars were interested in the form, intention, and effect of jokes and witty staging on different audiences. After describing my analytical approach, I provide a brief review of selected texts and offer, finally, a systematic summary.