A farce, insofar as this study is concerned, is any afterpiece which has plot, dialogue, and characters. This embraces such widely scattered varieties as burlesque, dramatic satire, pastoral, comedy, and opera. This study embraces more than a hundred farces, the most popular ones of their day.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The present thesis deals with the impact of the ancient Greek farce on modem literature with specific reference to the play Kinkels innie Kabel (1971) by the contemporary Afrikaans author André P. Brink. This play is loosely based on Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors, which in tum derives from Plautus' Menaechmi. Brink's play thus resonates with an entire European tradition. The relationship between the modem and the ancient farce is studied with reference to the concept of comedy. Comic effects, the difference between comedy and tragedy in respect of the handling of vital issues and the comic vision of the playwright are all taken into account. The analysis of the development of Athenian Old Comedy to the Roman Comedy refers to the contribution of Plautus and Terence to the continuation and revitalisation of Greek New Comedy. A comparison of these two playwrights reveals the characteristics of the farce and the difference between farce and comedy. The modem relevance of the farce is studied on the basis of Brink's text. For this purpose Plautus' original plot, the Shakespearian version and Brink's rendition are discussed and compared. On the basis of the similarities and differences in plot, caricaturisation, misidentifications, politics, fantasy, coincidence, irony, farcical violence, mechanical structure, temporal structure and linguistic register, the influence of the ancient farce on its modem counterpart is demonstrated. In addition to farce, Brink employs the classical devices of satire and parody to drive home his (political) message. Finally it is shown that the farcical in Plautus, Shakespeare and Brink serves a significant and serious thematic purpose. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie verhandeling handel oor die impak van 'n antieke Griekse komedievorm, die klug, op moderne werke en denke. A.P. Brink se verhoogstuk Kinkels innie Kabel (1971) is 'n vrye verwerking van William Shakespeare se The Comedy of Errors. Laasgenoemde werk is weer op sy beurt gebaseer op Plautus se Menaechmi. In sy verwerking van Plautus en Shakespeare laat A.P. Brink die hele Europese tradisie deurklink. Die verhouding tussen die moderne klug en die antieke klug word bestudeer deur te fokus op die term komedie: die verhouding daarvan met lag en hoe die komedie van die tragedie verskil ten opsigte van die hantering van lewensproblematiek en komiese visie van die komedieskrywer, maak deel uit van hierdie bespreking. Die komedie se herkoms en ontwikkeling vanaf die Ou Komedie tot die Romeinse Komedie, val ook onder die soeklig. In aansluiting hiermee word Plautus en Terentius bespreek as twee komedieskrywers wat 'n rol gespeel het in die oorlewering en verlewendiging van die Griekse Nuwe Komedie. Hierdie twee skrywers word ook met mekaar vergelyk sodat die eienskappe van die klug geïllustreer word, en hoe dit in wese verskil van komedie. Die relevansie van die klug in moderne denke word bestudeer aan die hand van Brink se teks. In hierdie verband word daar 'n uiteensetting gegee van die oorspronklike Plautiniese verhaal, die Shakespeariaanse weergawe en die Brinkiaanse teks. Aan die hand van die ooreenkomste en verskille in intrige, karikaturisering, identiteitsvergissings, politiek, die fantasie-element, toeval, ironie, klugtige geweld, die meganiese struktuur, die tydstruktuur en taalregister word die invloed van die antieke klug op die moderne klug geïllustreer. Benewens die klug word Brink se werk ook verder beïnvloed deur twee klassieke middele, met name satire en parodie. Hiermee bring Brink sy (politieke) boodskap tuis. Ten slotte word die dieperliggende temas in Plautus, Shakespeare en Brink se werk bespreek deur aan te toon dat die werk nie net om die klugtige gaan nie, maar ook die meer ernstige.