CHAPTER VI

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ROMAN COMEDY. T. MACCIUS PLAUTUS, ABOUT 254 TO 184 B.C.

Flourishing era of Roman Comedy 152 How far any claim to originality? 153 Disparaging judgment of later Roman critics 154 Connection with earlier Saturae 155 Naevius and Plautus popular poets 156 Facts in the life of Plautus 157 Attempt to fill up the outline from his works 159 Familiarity with town-life 160 Traces of maritime adventure 161 Life of the lower and middle classes represented in his plays 162 Love of good living 163 Love of money 164 Artistic indifference 165 Knowledge of Greek 165 Influence of the spirit of his age 166 Dramas adaptations of outward conditions of Athenian New Comedy 167 Manner and spirit, Roman and original 171 Indications of originality in his language 172 " " in his Roman allusions and national characteristics 173 Favourite plots of his plays 176 Pseudolus, Bacchides, Miles Gloriosus, Mostellaria 177 Aulularia, Trinummus, Menaechmi, Rudens, Captivi, Amphitryo 180 Mode of dealing with his characters 188 Moral and political indifference of his plays 189 Value as a poetic artist 193 Power of expression by action, rhythm, diction 194

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