Chapter 6 No.6

ROMAN COMEDY. T. MACCIUS PLAUTUS, ABOUT 254 TO 184 b.c.

Flourishing era of Roman Comedy 153

How far any claim to originality? 154

Disparaging judgment of later Roman critics 155

Connection with earlier Saturae 156

Naevius and Plautus popular poets 157

Facts in the life of Plautus 158

Attempt to fill up the outline from his works 160

Familiarity with town-life 161

Traces of maritime adventure 162

Life of the lower and middle classes represented in his plays 163

Love of good living 164

Love of money 166

Artistic indifference 166

Knowledge of Greek 167

Influence of the spirit of his age 167

Dramas adaptations of outward conditions of Athenian New Comedy 169

Manner and spirit, Roman and original 172

Indications of originality in his language 173

" " " in his Roman allusions and national characteristics 174

Favourite plots of his plays 178

Pseudolus, Bacchides, Miles Gloriosus, Mostellaria 179

Aulularia, Trinummus, Menaechmi, Rudens, Captivi, Amphitryo 182

Mode of dealing with his characters 191

Moral and political indifference of his plays 192

Value as a poetic artist 195

Power of expression by action, rhythm, diction 200