In his survey of aesthetic theories, including Aristotle, Horace, Evanthius, Aelius Donatus, and Philip Sidney (considered in this context as a neo-Aristotelian), Walker explores the differences between the dramatic mode and the narrative mode.
Equally important, since thoughtful contemporaries of Shakespeare did not simply assume comedy to be healthy for the soul, editors of Terence's works frequently felt compelled to attach prefaces that discussed "the structure and moral value of comedy," expanding on Aelius Donatus' 4th-century commentary.