The Importance of Being Earnest By Oscar Wilde

Questions: What is your definition of comedy? What makes you laugh? Why is it funny? What are some funny things you have heard, seen, watched lately? What is the purpose of comedy? Is there anything we should not make fun of? Why?

Francis Bacon said… “Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he is not; a sense of humor to console him for what he is.” ~Francis Bacon (1561 – 1626)

Eric Idle said… “At least one way of measuring the freedom of any society is the amount of comedy that is permitted, and clearly a healthy society permits more satirical comment than a repressive, so that if comedy is to function in someway as a safety release then in must obviously deal with these taboo areas. This is part of the responsibility we accord our licensed jesters, that nothing be excused the searching light of comedy. If anything can survive the probe of humour it is clearly of value, and conversely all groups who claim immunity from laughter are claiming special privileges which should not be granted.” Commenting on Monty Python

Egypt Egyptian satirist Bassem Youssef was recently arrested by the state. The order was to have him arrested and interrogated over allegations he insulted Islam and President Mohammed Morsi, and spread false news with “the aim of disrupting public order.” –CBC news Was released on bail on Saturday.

The Play The Importance of Being Earnest (produced 1895) is Wilde’s most famous comedy Complicated plot turns upon fortunes and misfortunes of two young upper-class Englishmen: John Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff Each lives a double life; creates another personality to escape tedious social/family obligations

Literary Devices The Importance of Being Earnest uses the following literary devices: Paradox: seems contradictory but presents truth Inverted logic: words/phrases turned upside down reversing our expectations Pun: play on words using word or phrase that has two meanings

Literary Devices Epigram: brief, witty, cleverly-expressed statement Parody: humorous mocking imitation of literary work Satire: ridicules through humor Irony: something you don’t expect to happen Foreshadowing: creates suspense through hints to the ending

The Comedic Ladder

The Comedic Ladder Comedy of Ideas (high comedy) Characters argue about ideas like politics, religion, sex, marriage. They use wit, their clever language to mock their opponent in an argument. This is a subtle way to satirize people and institutions like political parties, governments, churches, war, and marriage. Ex. M*A*S*H, Monty Python, The Simpsons

The Comedic Ladder Comedy of Manners (high comedy) The plot focuses on amorous intrigues among the upper classes. The dialogue focuses on witty language. Clever speech, insults and “put-downs” are traded between characters. Society is often made up of cliques that are exclusive with certain groups as the in-crowd (the true wits), other groups (the would-be-wits, desiring to be part of the witty crowd) and some (the witless) on the outside. Ex. Cheers, Fraiser, Will and Grace

The Comedic Ladder Farce (can be combination of high/low) The plot is full of coincidences, mistimings, mistaken identities. Characters are puppets of fate – they are twins separated at birth, unhappy matches made by overbearing parents, alliances complicated by money or birth, and happy endings Ex. Seinfeld, That 70’s show, Austin Powers

The Comedic Ladder Low Comedy Subjects of the humor consists of dirty jokes, dirty gestures, sex, and elimination The extremes of humor range from exaggeration to understatement with a focus on the physical like long noses, cross eyes, humped back and deformities. The physical actions revolve around slapstick, loud noises, physical mishaps, collisions – all part of the humor of man encountering an uncooperative universe. Ex. Dumb and Dumber, Beavis and Butthead, Roxanne

Task In groups of 4, discuss the four rungs of the comedic ladder and provide specific examples of each type of comedy as found in television shows, films, or literature. Be prepared to share and support your choices. Remember, often comedy types are combined for entertainment. Try to find examples that clearly show the characteristics of one type of comedy.