How did Greek New Comedy influence Roman playwrights Plautus and Terence?

Roman playwrights Plautus and Terence adapted Greek New Comedy—a genre featuring fictional average citizens and stock characters—to create the Roman fabula palliata, or "play in Greek dress". While both drew from Greek models, their approaches differed significantly.123

Plautus
Plautus used Greek plots as a framework but transformed them into lively, distinctly Roman performances. He incorporated Roman institutions, laws, and colloquial Latin, often blending scenes from multiple Greek originals through a process called contaminatio. His style was characterized by slapstick humor, linguistic play, and musical elements, making his plays resemble comic opera. He prioritized boisterous energy and farce over strict fidelity to his Greek sources.431

Terence
Terence remained closer to the spirit and structure of his Greek originals, particularly those of Menander. He focused on refined language, psychological depth, and subtle characterization rather than the slapstick force of Plautus. While he also utilized contaminatio, he was more concerned with elegant, correct Latin and realistic portrayals of relationships. His work became a model for pure Latin and significantly influenced the later comedy of manners.153