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One of the best examples of this method is the Plautine slave, a form that plays a major role in quite a few of Plautus ’ works.
The “ clever slave ” in particular is a very strong character ; he not only provides exposition and humor, but also often drives the plot in Plautus ’ plays.
C. Stace argues that Plautus took the stock slave character from New Comedy in Greece and altered it for his own purposes.
In New Comedy, he writes, “ the slave is often not much more than a comedic turn, with the added purpose, perhaps, of exposition ”.
This shows that there was precedent for this slave archetype, and obviously some of its old role continues in Plautus ( the expository monologues, for instance ).
However, because Plautus found humor in slaves tricking their masters or comparing themselves to great heroes, he took the character a step further and created something distinct.

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