Discover published sets by community

A genre of comedy film that became popular during the Great Depression, characterized by fast-paced repartee, farcical situations, escapist themes, and often slapstick comedy. Example: Not particularly found in literature, but the essence exists in The Importance of Being Earnest's rapid wit.

A sub-genre of comedy and satire where topics and events that are usually treated seriously – death, mass murder, suicide, sickness, insanity, etc. – are treated in a humorous or satirical manner. Example: Joseph Heller's Catch-22 uses black comedy to critique the absurdities of war.

The use of irony to mock or convey contempt. Example: In Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, when Mr. Bennet sarcastically praises Mr. Collins, 'You write uncommonly fast.'

An imitation of the style of a particular writer, artist, or genre with deliberate exaggeration for comic effect. Example: Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes is a parody of the traditional chivalric romances of its time.

A humorous imitation of something, typically a film or a particular genre of film, in which its characteristic features are exaggerated for comic effect. Example: Although more common in film, a literary example would be Bored of the Rings, a parody of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings.

An abrupt transition in style from the exalted to the commonplace, producing a ludicrous effect. Example: The comic fall in Poe’s ‘The Fall of the House of Usher,' where the lofty tone suddenly drops to a description of a 'singularly dreary tract of country.'

A type of humor that arises from stressful, traumatic, or life-threatening situations, often in such a way that it's perceived as inappropriate or too dark. Example: Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five uses gallows humor in dealing with the tragedies of war.

A figure of speech in which a writer or speaker deliberately makes a situation seem less important or serious than it is. Example: In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, Huck describes a dangerous and tense situation by saying, 'I was in a tight place.'

A literary and philosophical term suggesting that the human condition is essentially absurd, devoid of purpose. The general humor and pointlessness of life is expressed through seemingly meaningless and nonsensical dialogue and actions. Example: The works of Franz Kafka, like The Metamorphosis, often explore the absurdity of existence.

A literary genre or technique that uses humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to criticize and expose folly or vice, often in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues. Example: Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels satirizes British politics and society.

A comic dramatic work using buffoonery and horseplay and typically includes crude characterization and ludicrously improbable situations. Example: The Comedy of Errors by Shakespeare is considered a farce due to its slapstick humor and absurd situations.

A phrase that can be understood in two ways, one of which is usually risqué or indecent. Example: Much Ado About Nothing by Shakespeare is rife with double entendres, such as when Benedict is told he has an 'excellent wit', to which he replies 'You are a rare parrot-teacher.'

A play on words that produces a humorous effect by using a word that suggests two or more meanings. Example: In Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Mercutio's 'Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man.'

A figure of speech in which the intended meaning is opposite of the literal meaning. Example: In O. Henry's 'The Gift of the Magi', a young couple sell their most prized possessions to buy each other gifts, which end up being useless because they complement what the other person sold.

A style of humor involving exaggerated physical activity which exceeds the boundaries of normal physical comedy. Example: The play 'A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum' contains slapstick humor.

A form of irony that is expressed through a work's structure: an audience's awareness of the situation in which a work's characters exist differs substantially from that of the characters'. Example: In A Midsummer Night's Dream, the audience knows about the effects of the love potion, while the characters do not.

The presence of something that seems out of place or is not in harmony with its surroundings, often used to create a comic effect. Example: In The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the idea of a book that calmly advises you 'Don't Panic' while galaxies are in peril creates comic incongruity.

An exaggerated statement that is not meant to be taken literally but creates a humorous or emphatic effect. Example: In The Importance of Being Earnest, Algernon says, 'I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read in the train.'

The mistaken use of a word in place of a similar-sounding one, often with unintentionally amusing effect. Example: In The Rivals by Richard Sheridan, Mrs. Malaprop says, 'He is the very pineapple of politeness!' instead of 'pinnacle'.

Humor arising from awkward or unexpected social situations. Example: In Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest, the mix-ups and misunderstandings create situational comedy.

A form of comic delivery in which humor is presented without a change in emotion or body language, usually speaking in a casual, monotone, matter-of-fact manner. Example: The character of Arthur Dent in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy often responds to the absurdity around him with a deadpan demeanor.

A description of a person using exaggeration of some characteristics and oversimplification of others. Example: Mr. Micawber in Charles Dickens' David Copperfield is a caricature of a perpetually optimistic debtor.

A literary genre that blends aspects of both tragic and comic forms. Example: Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot is considered a tragicomedy due to its mixture of tragic and comic elements.

The inclusion of a comic character, scene, or witty dialogue in an otherwise serious work, often to relieve tension. Example: The character of the Nurse in Romeo and Juliet provides comedic relief with her bawdy humor.