The role of the Praenotamenta of Jodocus Badius Ascensius in shaping early modern dramatic criticism

Abstract

<p>Luis Alfonso de Carvallo in his dialogue <i>Cisne de Apollo</i> (Apollo's swan, 1602) has the allegorical character Lectura (Reading) respond to Zoilo's dis-missive comment on the role of comedy with a powerful statement: 'comedy is an imitation of life, a mirror of customs and an image of truth' (<i>la comedia es una imitación de la vida, espejo de costumbres, imagen de verdad</i>).¹ This quote is attributed to Cicero but only known to us through the fifth- century treatise <i>De comoedia</i> (On comedy) by grammarians Donatus and Euanthius.² It elaborates the concept of verisimilitude that is inherent to the comic genre and essential in triggering an emotional response in the audience.</p>