Aspects of comedy Key Terms

Comedy

A genre of literature that aims to entertain and amuse, often featuring exaggerated characters and situations.

Satire

A literary technique that uses humor, irony, or ridicule to criticize or mock societal norms and behaviors.

Parody

A humorous imitation of a particular genre or work, exaggerating its characteristics for comic effect.

Exaggeration

A technique in comedy where situations or characteristics are presented as more extreme than they are in reality.

Comic Protagonist

A central character in a comedy who often embodies folly and engages in humorous situations.

Rival

A character who opposes the protagonist, often leading to comedic conflict and resolution.

Satire

A genre that uses humor, irony, or exaggeration to criticize or mock societal norms.

Romantic Comedy

A subgenre of comedy that focuses on romantic relationships, often with a light-hearted tone.

Stereotype

A widely held but oversimplified idea of a particular type of person or thing, often used in comedy to create humor.

Comic Device

Techniques used by writers to create humor, such as irony, exaggeration, and absurdity.

Comic Irony

A situation where the outcome is incongruous with what was expected, often used for humorous effect.

Mistaken Identity

A common plot device in comedy where characters are confused for one another, leading to humorous situations.

Irony

A contrast between expectation and reality, often used for humorous effect.

Mistaken Identity

A common plot device in comedy where characters are confused for one another, leading to humorous situations.

Disorder

A state of confusion or chaos that initiates the comedic plot, often involving misunderstandings or conflicts.

Order

The resolution of conflicts and restoration of harmony at the end of a comedic narrative.

Pun

A form of wordplay that exploits multiple meanings of a term or similar-sounding words for humorous effect.

Malapropism

The unintentional misuse of a word by confusion with one that sounds similar, often resulting in a humorous effect.

Satire

A genre that uses humor, irony, or ridicule to criticize or mock societal norms and behaviors.

Farce

A comedic genre characterized by exaggerated and improbable situations, often involving physical humor.

Exaggeration

A comedic technique that involves overstating characteristics or situations to create humor.

Satire

A genre that uses humor, irony, or ridicule to criticize or mock societal norms or politics.

Comic Relief

A humorous scene or passage inserted into a serious work to provide a break from the tension.

Satire

A genre that uses humor, irony, or ridicule to criticize or mock societal norms and behaviors.

Mistaken Identity

A comedic device where characters are confused for one another, leading to humorous situations.

Patriarchy

A social system in which men hold primary power, influencing the dynamics of relationships in Shakespeare's works.

Irony

A literary device where the intended meaning is opposite to the literal meaning, often used to create humor.

Social Class

A system of hierarchical distinctions that influences characters' interactions and comedic situations in 'Emma'.

Comic Irony

A literary device where the intended meaning is opposite to the literal meaning, often used to create humor.

Mistaken Identity

A common comedic trope where characters are confused for one another, leading to humorous situations.