Humor in Literature

Introduction: Humor in Literature

Humor in literature is a powerful and versatile literary device that transcends cultural and temporal boundaries, infusing narratives with wit, amusement, and intellectual depth. Authors employ humor to engage readers, challenge social norms, and convey complex ideas through lighthearted and often subversive means.

From the clever wordplay of Shakespeare to the satirical commentary of Mark Twain, humor has served as a lens through which authors explore human nature, society, and the human condition. By juxtaposing the serious and the comical, literature has the capacity to both entertain and enlighten, leaving a lasting impact on readers and enriching the literary landscape.

This multifaceted use of humor in literature underscores its enduring relevance in the world of storytelling and intellectual discourse.

Examples of Humor in Literature

Work	Type of Humor
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen	Pride and Prejudice is known for its witty and satirical humor, characterized by sharp and intelligent banter among characters, particularly the exchanges between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy.
Catch-22 by Joseph Heller	Catch-22 is filled with dark humor, emphasizing the absurdity of war and bureaucracy during World War II, with the “catch-22” concept at the core of the humor.
The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde	The Importance of Being Earnest is a prime example of witty and farcical humor, satirizing the social norms and superficiality of the upper classes in Victorian England.
Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes	Don Quixote is rich in humor, primarily through the character of Don Quixote, who is a comical and delusional figure with a penchant for chivalry and fantasy.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams	The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is renowned for its absurdist and surreal humor, often using satire to comment on the human condition.
Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett	Good Omens blends humor with fantasy, offering a clever and witty commentary while telling the story of an angel and a demon trying to prevent the apocalypse.
A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole	A Confederacy of Dunces features Ignatius J. Reilly, an eccentric and bumbling character, whose escapades in New Orleans lead to humorous and chaotic situations.
Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding	Bridget Jones’s Diary is written in diary format and humorously portrays the life and romantic misadventures of the titular character, Bridget Jones.
The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson	This book follows the centenarian Allan Karlsson’s humorous escapades as he escapes from his nursing home and becomes inadvertently involved in absurd situations.
Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore	Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal is a satirical novel that humorously imagines the life of Jesus Christ’s childhood friend, Biff, and their comical adventures.

How to Create Humor in Literature or Writing

1. Wordplay and Puns:
   • Utilize clever wordplay, puns, and linguistic humor to create witty and humorous connections between words and phrases.
   • Play with double meanings, homophones, and unexpected language twists to engage the reader’s sense of humor.
2. Situational Comedy:
   • Craft humorous situations or scenarios where characters find themselves in absurd, ironic, or comically exaggerated circumstances.
   • Exaggerate the incongruity between expectation and reality for comedic effect.
3. Satire and Parody:
   • Employ satire to criticize or mock individuals, society, or institutions through humor.
   • Create parodies that imitate and exaggerate the style, content, or tone of other works or genres for comedic commentary.
4. Character Humor:
   • Develop characters with distinct and humorous personalities, quirks, or eccentricities.
   • Use their interactions and reactions to situations to generate comedic moments.
5. Timing and Delivery:
   • Pay attention to comedic timing and the pacing of humor within your writing.
   • Build anticipation and use well-placed punchlines or comedic reveals to maximize the impact of the humor.

Remember that humor is subjective, and what one reader finds funny, another may not. Tailor your humor to your target audience and the overall tone of your work while maintaining consistency in your comedic style.

Benefits of Using Humor in Literature

1. Engagement and Reader/Listener Connection:
   • Humor captivates and entertains readers or listeners, making your content more engaging and memorable.
   • It establishes a connection by evoking positive emotions, increasing audience receptivity to your message.
2. Stress Reduction and Relaxation:
   • Humor serves as a stress reliever, promoting relaxation and reducing tension in the audience.
   • It can create a light-hearted atmosphere, making the experience more enjoyable.
3. Enhanced Communication:
   • Humor can clarify complex ideas and improve communication by simplifying or illustrating concepts through amusing anecdotes or examples.
   • It facilitates understanding and retention of information.
4. Building Rapport and Social Connection:
   • In social interactions, humor in literature is a powerful tool for building rapport and establishing a friendly atmosphere.
   • It fosters a sense of camaraderie and can ease social tensions, making communication more enjoyable.
5. Memorability and Impact:
   • Humorous in literature tends to be more memorable than dry or serious information.
   • It can leave a lasting impression, making your message more impactful and shareable.

However, it’s essential to use humor judiciously and consider the appropriateness of the context and the preferences of your audience to ensure that it enhances rather than detracts from your communication or writing.

Humor in Literature and Literary Theories

Theory	Critique
Formalism	Formalism examines how humor in literature is structured within the text by focusing on its stylistic and structural elements. It analyzes how the author’s choice of language, tone, and rhythm enhances the comic effect. Additionally, formalist critique pays attention to the pacing, timing, and arrangement of humorous elements, highlighting how they contribute to the overall humor in the work.
New Criticism	New Criticism, through close reading, uncovers the nuances of humor within a text. This approach delves into the text’s internal elements, such as irony, paradox, and ambiguity, and assesses how these elements contribute to the humor. Furthermore, New Criticism examines how the author’s language choices and the text’s form shape the reader’s comedic experience.
Psychological Criticism	Psychological Criticism investigates the psychological mechanisms at play in both the creation and appreciation of humor in literature and texts. It considers how the personalities and motivations of the characters contribute to the humor and explores the cognitive processes that underlie the audience’s perception of humor within the work.
Cultural Studies	In Cultural Studies, the critique of humor involves analyzing the cultural context in which the humor is situated. It explores how humor in the text reflects or challenges cultural norms, values, and social issues. This approach also considers how humor is used to critique or comment on specific cultural phenomena, shedding light on its deeper cultural implications.
Reader-Response Theory	Reader-Response Theory investigates how different readers interpret and respond to humor in literature. It analyzes the role of the reader’s personal experiences, beliefs, and cultural background in shaping their understanding and appreciation of the humor. Additionally, this approach examines how the text engages readers and elicits emotional responses, including laughter and amusement, highlighting the dynamic nature of humor reception.
Postmodernism and Deconstruction	Postmodernism and Deconstruction explore how humor can deconstruct or subvert traditional narratives and expectations. This critique method analyzes the text’s use of irony, parody, and intertextuality to challenge established norms and structures, often exposing the inherent instability of language and meaning through humor.
Feminist and Gender Criticism	In the context of Feminist and Gender Criticism, humor in literature is assessed in relation to issues of gender and power. This critique delves into the portrayal of gender roles, stereotypes, and representations within the humor and considers whether the humor reinforces or subverts gender-related norms and expectations, providing insights into the text’s stance on these issues.
Marxist Criticism	Marxist Criticism examines how humor can be a tool to critique social, economic, and class structures. It analyzes how the text uses humor to highlight disparities, injustices, or inequalities within society. This approach also considers the ways in which humor might serve as a form of resistance or satire, offering a lens through which to view class struggle and social critique.

Suggested Readings

1. Bergson, Henri. Laughter: An Essay on the Meaning of the Comic. 1911.
2. Frye, Northrop. Anatomy of Criticism: Four Essays. Princeton University Press, 1957.
3. Hutcheon, Linda. A Theory of Parody: The Teachings of Twentieth-Century Art Forms. Methuen, 1985.
4. McGhee, Paul E. Humor: Its Origin and Development. W. H. Freeman, 1979.
5. Morreall, John. Taking Laughter Seriously. State University of New York Press, 1983.
6. Schweizer, Bernard. “The Heresy of Humor: Theological Responses to Laughter.” Reading Heresy: Religion and Dissent in Literature and Art (2017): 135.
7. Raskin, Victor. The Primer of Humor Research. Mouton de Gruyter, 2008.