Editing Plautus (section)

===Prologues===
The poetry of Menander and Plautus is best juxtaposed in their prologues. Robert B. Lloyd makes the point that "albeit the two prologues introduce plays whose plots are of essentially different types, they are almost identical in form..."<ref name="Lloyd149">Lloyd 1963, p. 149.</ref> He goes on to address the specific style of Plautus that differs so greatly from Menander. He says that the "verbosity of the Plautine prologues has often been commented upon and generally excused by the necessity of the Roman playwright to win his audience."<ref name="Lloyd149"/> However, in both Menander and Plautus, [[word play]] is essential to their comedy. Plautus might seem more verbose, but where he lacks in [[physical comedy]] he makes up for it with words, [[alliteration]] and paronomasia (punning).<ref>Lloyd 1963, p. 150.</ref> See also "jokes and wordplay" below.

Plautus is well known for his devotion to puns, especially when it comes to the names of his characters. In ''Miles Gloriosus'', for instance, the female concubine's name, Philocomasium, translates to "lover of a good party"—which is quite apt when we learn about the tricks and wild ways of this prostitute.