The Basis of Ancient Parody

F. J. Lelièvre

doi:10.1017/S0017383500012407

The Basis of Ancient Parody

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 January 2009

F. J. Lelièvre

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This article attempts to survey certain aspects of parody as it appears in ancient literature: it is concerned mainly with the nature and purpose of parody, the techniques which it employs, the relation of parody to certain other literary forms, and its origin. In any such discussion the principal difficulty is likely to be one of definition and classification, for the terms ‘parody’, пαρῳδή, &c., cover a range of divergent meanings, and a certain looseness can sometimes be detected in their use. What then is the basic meaning which пαρῳδή in itself conveys?

Type: Research Article
Information: Greece & Rome , Volume 1 , Issue 2 , June 1954 , pp. 66 - 81

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0017383500012407 [Opens in a new window]
Copyright: Copyright © The Classical Association 1954

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^{page 66 note 1} See e.g. Edmonds, , Elegy and Iambus, vol. i, p. 166Google Scholar, n. 2, where the application of the term ‘parody’ to Phocylides frag, i seems open to question. Demodocus wrote

καì τόδε Δημοδόκον χĩοι κακοί οὐχ ό μῳν ὃς δ' οὒ,

пάντες, пλ⋯ν Пροκλέους καì Пροκλέης χίϊος.

Phocylides' riposte merely substitutes his name for D. and Λέριος (–01) for χĩος (–01). In the absence of the distortion and contrast of matter and manner which characterize parody, Bergk's ‘respondit… Demodocum exagitans’ appears preferable.

^{page 66 note 2} This is the technique used by Aristophanes in Acharn. 119 where the Scholiast refers to it as пαρῳδία (cf. пαρ⋯ τό, пαρ⋯ τά as in Schol. ad Ar. Av. 276, 348, and frequently). Self-contained mock-epics based on this technique are called пαρῳδίαι by Aristotle, (Poet. 1448b)Google Scholar and Athenaeus, (xv. 698 a, &c.).Google Scholar

^{page 67 note 1} Cf. Quint, vi. 3. 97. The use in Longinus, iii. i of пαρατράγῳδος ‘overdoing the tragic style’ is similar, though the overloading is of course unconscious in L.'s instance. Comparable also is Pollux, Onomasttcon x. 92, σпυρίδιον, ὃ καì пλέκος εἴρηκε (i.e. Aristophanes)… пαρατραγῳδ⋯ν. The word пαρατραγῳδεĩν may go back to Strattis (frag. 3 d). пαρατραγῳδία is approximately to пαρῳδία as ‘bombast’ is to ‘parody’. пαρατραγικύομαι in Schol. Ar. Vesp. 1473 may comprise action and diction.

^{page 68 note 1} Columella Bk. x might be so regarded. For some ancient writers пαρῳδή, &c., would not exclude pastiche: non-humorous uses of пαρῳδή are mentioned later.

^{page 69 note 1} Schol. in Lucianum, ed. Rabe (Teubner), p. 31. Homer's βοήν ⋯γαθός is quoted in the form βοήν ⋯γαθόν by a speaker in Lucian's dialogue, and the Schol. comments ό Λονκιανός δέ пαρῴδησεν αὐτό.…

^{page 70 note 1} Murray, A. T., On Parody and Paratragoedia in Aristophanes (Berlin, 1891)Google Scholar, gives a detailed study of various burlesque passages.

^{page 70 note 2} Cf. Johannes Siculus on Hermog. пερì ἰδέων: β' (Walz, , Rhet. Graec., vol. vi, p. 400, 1. 16)Google Scholar пαρῳδία γ⋯ρ ⋯στιν ὃταν τ⋯ ⋯λλότριον εἰς τ⋯ν οἰκείαν σύνταξιν μεταпοιήσῃ τις οὓτως ὡς μ⋯ λανθάνειν…, though Johannes is speaking of parody not as generally understood but as a special term of rhetoric.

^{page 70 note 3} Poet. 1448^a12.

^{page 70 note 4} See, for example, O.E.D.: ‘parody’.

^{page 71 note 1} In Deipn. xiv. 638 b… τ⋯ν ⋯ξαμέτρων τινές ⋯п⋯ τ⋯ γελοϊον пαρῳδ⋯ς ερον. The fact that Aristoxenus, who is quoted by Athenaeus, here inserts ⋯п⋯ τ⋯ γελοῖον does not rule out its implication elsewhere: a modern could speak of ‘comic parodies’.

^{page 71 note 2} пερ⋯ μεθόδου δεινότητος 30.

^{page 71 note 3} Rhet. Graec., vol. ix, Index s.w.

^{page 72 note 1} ПАРωιΔιА, Classical Philology, xxxix, January 1944, p. 9.

^{page 72 note 2} пερ⋯ μεθόδου δεινότητος 34.

^{page 72 note 3} vi. 3. 97.

^{page 72 note 4} ix. 2. 35.

^{page 72 note 5} Cf. Cousin, Études sur Quintilien, vol. ii, p. 117 (Paris, 1936): ‘пαρῳδή: Parodie: Terme qui désigne proprement un air fait à l'imitation d'un autre air et qui en rhétorique se rapporte à une sorte de travestissement ironique ou burlesque d'un texte.’ He then quotes this passage.

^{page 73 note 1} In ПАРωιΔιΑ Householder shows that the particular word пαρῳδία when used concretely of a parodic work means a mock-epic poem. He suggests that the use of the term in connexion with comic quotations (as e.g. in Aristophanes) arose from their existence within the mock-epics.

^{page 73 note 2} Ath. xiv. 638 b.

^{page 73 note 3} iii. 5.

^{page 73 note 4} e.g. Diog. Laert. vi. 90. Crates, though in process of being forcibly shown the door, manages to adapt Il. i. 591 and comments ἓλκε пοδ⋯ς τεταγὼν δι⋯ βηλο⋯ θεσпεσίοιο, or cf. the use of Il. x. 481 ἠ⋯ σύγ' ἂνδρας ἔναιρε, μελήσουσιν δ' ⋯μο⋯ ἳппοι by a veterinary surgeon addressing a doctor in Eustathius.

^{page 74 note 1} Modern English Usage, p. 241.

^{page 74 note 2} Kleinknecht, H., ‘Die Gebetsparodie in der Antike’, Tübinger Beiträge zur Altertumswissenschaft, Stuttgart-Berlin, 1937, pp. 13–14Google Scholar, comments that the ancients distinguished between rein komischer and kritischspöttischer parody and contrasts Ath. xiv. 638 b ⋯п⋯ τό γελοῖον пαρῳδ⋯ς with the phrase σκωпτικ⋯ς пαρῳδεῑν used by Eustathius on Od. i. i. It is perhaps dangerous to generalize from these instances; on the other hand, Householder seems misleading in suggesting that both humour and ridicule are equally remote from the meaning of пαρῳδή, &c. It is normally the second force only which requires an additional word (e.g. σκωпτικ⋯ ς) to make itself felt, though with a neutral word such as μεταρρυθμίειν a phrase such as εἰς τό γελοῖον would of course be necessary to bring out the first force (Steph. Byz de urb. s.v. ταρ⋯ ς: Householder ПАРωιΔιА: sect, ix and note 27).

^{page 75 note 1} Murray, G., Aristophanes, Oxford, 1933Google Scholar, chap. v. For a typical passage from Aristophanes see e.g. Acharn., 11. 395 onward.

^{page 75 note 2} See e.g. Richardson, , ParodyGoogle Scholar: English Assn. Pamph. 92, 1935.

^{page 75 note 3} Praescript. adv. Haeret. xxxix. Cf. Isidore Orig. i. 39 and Jerome, , Epist. 103, 7.Google Scholar

^{page 76 note 1} For other examples in Latin see Teuffel, and Schwabe, , Hist. of Rom. Lit. 26Google Scholar, § 2: also Knight, W. F. J., Roman Virgil, p. 307 (London, 1944)Google Scholar: in Greek see e.g. Luc. Char. 22. Delepierre, O., Tableau de la Littérature du Centon (London, 1874)Google Scholar, has material of some interest in vol. i, pp. 1–114.

^{page 76 note 2} Quint, . Inst. Or. vi. 3. 97.Google Scholar

^{page 76 note 3} There were e.g. Christian centones derived from pagan authors. Bishop Patricius seems to have initiated an Homeric cento of this type and his work was completed by the Empress Eudocia, consort to Theodosius II.

^{page 76 note 4} Schol. ad Il. ii. 212… οενοφ⋯νει ⋯λλ' ‘Ομήρῳ пρώτῳ σίλλοι пεпοίηνται.

^{page 76 note 5} See L. & S., 8th edn., s.v. σίλλος: the note disappears in the gth edition: for more detailed discussion see Paul, , de Sill. Graecorum, pp. 15–21Google Scholar, and Weland, , de praecip. parod. Homeric, scriptoribus, pp. 15–21Google Scholar; Wachsmuth, , Sill. Grace. Reliq. (Leipzig, 1885, Teubner); Pauly-Wissowa, s.v.Google Scholar

^{page 76 note 6} Diels, , Fragmente der Vorsokratiker (Berlin, 1934), frag. II.Google Scholar

^{page 77 note 1} Ath. ii. 54 e.

^{page 77 note 2} Diog. Laert. ix. 112.

^{page 77 note 3} Id. iv. 42.

^{page 77 note 4} Cf. id. ix. 110: σιλλαίνει⋯ν пαρῳδίας εἲδει.

^{page 77 note 5} Corpusc.Poes. Epic. Graec. Ludib. vol. ii. Wachsmuth, , Sill. Graec. Reliq.Google Scholar, gives the fragments of these writers and their Homeric, parallels.

^{page 78 note 1} Poet. i. 42.

^{page 78 note 2} La Parodie chez les Grecs, les Romains et les Modernes (Trübner, London, 1870).

^{page 78 note 3} Über die parodische Poesie der Griechen (Frankfurt, 1810).

^{page 78 note 4} De praecipuis parodiarum Homericarum scriptoribus (Göttingen, 1833). So also Welcker, F. T., TheognisGoogle Scholar, Proleg, ., p. Ixxx (Frankfurt, 1826).Google Scholar

^{page 79 note 1} As Householder implies (ПАРωιΔιА, note 4),пαρῳδός seems to be the rarest word of the group: but we can add to his examples Suidas Σ 847 (Σώпατρος пαρῳδός) and Eustathius, p. 1404. 2 (⋯ пαρῳδ⋯ ς Τίμων).

^{page 79 note 2} See e.g. Sikes, , The Greek View of Poetry, p. 46 (London, 1931)Google Scholar; Henry, , Classical Review, xix. 192Google Scholar (cf. C.R. xix, p. 432 and xx, p. 97).

^{page 79 note 3} Alcib. ii. 147 c.

^{page 79 note 4} Eth. Nic. vi. vii. 2.

^{page 80 note 1} Arist. Poet. 1448^b 30 ⋯ Μαργίτης κα⋯ τ⋯ τοιαũτα.

^{page 80 note 2} Cf. also ⋯μήχανα τ' ἒργα (Il. viii. 130) in the fragment of the Cercopes preserved by Suidas, s.v. Κέρκωпες. пολλήν δ' ⋯п⋯ γαῖαν ἲοντες | ⋯νθρώпους ⋯пάτασκον, ⋯λώμενοι ἢματα пάντα, the conclusion of the fragment, remotely suggests the opening lines of the Odyssey.

^{page 80 note 3} Hom. et Hes. Cert., p. 313 (Goettling); Homer, vol. v, O.C.T. Cert. 11. 15–17: Κολοφώνοι δ⋯ κα⋯ τόпον δεικνύουσιν ⋯ν ᾧ φασιν αὐτ⋯ν [Homer] γράμματα διδάσκοντα τ⋯ς пοιήσεως ἂρξασθαι κα⋯ пοι⋯σαι пρ⋯τον τ⋯ν Μαργίτην.

^{page 80 note 4} xv. 698 c.

^{page 80 note 5} De Herodoti Malignitate, § 43.

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