The Worlds First Comedian?

If you ever saw Aristophanes live on stage, you must be sincerely old. That's because he appeared around 400 B.C., and back then the videos were pretty bad.

This amazing Greek dramatist knew how to communicate through comedy. Like present-day humorists, much of his work focused on current events or politicians.

What can we learn from this ancient wordsmith?

1. Humor can be a great teaching device. One of his early plays ? "The Clouds" ? talks about an old man trying to solve problems by enrolling in a "thinking school."

2. Repetition ? Aristophanes reinforced the main points of his plays by repeating major themes, often in verse.

3. Rhythm and song ? These found their way into the author's works as a helpful memory device. In fact, you might call Aristophanes "the great-great grandfather of musical comedy."

4. Fantasy ? In his play "The Frogs" Aristophanes tells about a trip to Hades to bring the author Euripides back to earth.

5. Offbeat comedy ? Some critics claim a few of his comedies were intentionally silly. In some, a character from the play would step forward to address the audience. This person may have been one of the earliest "stand-up comics."

6. Segmentation ? A few critics say that Aristophanes' writing skipped from one subject to another, and often seemed disconnected. Others, however, saw that this ancient author knew how to change subjects easily ? and create powerful scenes ? by weaving a single theme throughout each presentation.

Rix Quinn writes the nationally syndicated weekly humor feature "Poor Rix's Almanac." His book "Words That Stick" is available from your local bookstore, or http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN /1580085768/qid/

---

Better Links Directory

Restaurant Manager Gives Out Sexual Favors As Performance Bonus, Raise

While many restaurant workers worry and sweat in anticipation of... Read More

Very Precise Fortune Cookies

I cracked open the fortune cookie and read the little... Read More

3 Surefire Ways To Combat Rising Gas Prices

I have heard the rumblings of many of you in... Read More

Essential Laughter

Take time to laugh at yourself and the ridiculous in... Read More

Cant Get There From Here

... Read More

How To Get Attention, or: As You Read This, You Feel an Irresistible Urge to Go On Reading!

We all want attention. As children we crave the attention... Read More

Fried Green Tomatoes Recipe

My next-door neighbors found a human bone in their backyard.... Read More

Bad Days and Bad Timing

Have you ever noticed how family members always misbehave at... Read More

The Work-from-home Fashion Primer

Last week, I reported how writers, stay-at-home parents and online... Read More

Valet Parking: Theft with Consent

This column is long overdue. To put it in library... Read More

If, An Online Marketers Internet Addiction Poem, Can You Relate to This?

IF, An Online Internet Marketing PoemIf before you have turned... Read More

Got Originality?

There are many ways to be original these days. But... Read More

Humor Under The Keyboards

For me, the piano is the symbol of what is... Read More

And the World Goes Round

If you are a citizen of UK or Australia, you... Read More

When Humans and Dogs Collide: Negotiations for Todays Changing Times

This morning I decided to find myself. I originally looked... Read More

A Lawyers Favorite Lawyer Jokes

Lawyer JokesQ: How does a pregnant woman know she is... Read More

Starbucks Going into Hilton

Well, I hope you did not read that headline wrong,... Read More

Silver Linings Are Everywhere

Viagra. That one word packs a lot of punch. Let's... Read More

Voodoo Munchies

Looking for a lighthearted and fun way to remove the... Read More

Your Stars Part 3

LibraHit TV show 'The X Factor' is back on our... Read More

The Language of Appalachia

Imagine my surprise when I went to Jamaica a few... Read More

11 Alternative Garden Games

Tired of the same ol', same ol' when it come... Read More

Dumb Luck

I've never really thought of myself as being funny. I... Read More

Lactose Intolerant? It could be a good thing

Lactose Intolerant Individuals may prove a bonus in Space Missions.... Read More

The Spare Parts Gremlins

Don't you just love getting a little something extra? Sure... Read More