1. Comedy
CP English 2

2. WHAT IS IT? WHERE DID IT COME FROM?
Comedy: n. the comic element of drama.
Comes from the Greek word, komoidia: komos + aoidos “Revel” + “Singing”
After a tragedy, men would gather, celebrate, and march down streets singing to music and shouting vile jests. The group was called a comus and the song a comoedia or comedy.
Since critics were able to get away with comedic criticism. Satire became important in vocalizing the issues of a people, safely.

3. Differences between a comedy and a tragedy, according to john morreall
Social Differences
Tragedy
Comedy
Heroism: Characters tend to be "superhuman, semidivine, larger-than-life" beings.
Antiheroism: Characters tend to be normal, down-to-earth individuals.  Comedies tend to parody authority.
Militarism: Tragedies often arise in warrior cultures.  And its values are those of the good soldier--duty, honor, commitment.
Pacifism: Comedies tend to call into question warrior values: Better to lose your dignity and save your life.
Vengeance: Offending a tragic hero often results in a cycle of vengeance.
Forgiveness: Forgiveness, even friendship among former enemies, happens.
Less Sexual Equality: Often male-dominated.
More Sexual Equality: While often sexist too, are sometimes less so.  Women play a larger, more active role.

4. The different genres of comedy
STAND UP: One comic stands in front of an audience and tells quick, fast paced humorous stories that are usually connected to current events.
SATIRE: Comedy that represents actual events or individuals in a humorous way often meant to point out flaws and to induce change.
SITUATIONAL: More commonly known as “Sitcoms.” These routines exaggerate the humor found within the home or workplace. They originally started with radio but became extremely popular with the introduction of the television.
SLAPSTICK: A form in which actors use exaggerated physical actions to prompt silly responses.
DRAMEDY: A coined word to describe instances of combining humor with serious events.
IMPROVISE: More commonly known as “improv.” This style challenges actors to quickly react to suggestions given to them by an independent source.

5. Commedia dell’ Arte
A type of comedy developed in 16th and 17th century Italy, characterized by improvised text based on plot outlines (scenarios).
Featured stock characters, some of whom wore distinctive masks.
Using sexually challenging language and physical comedy, Commedia pokes fun at elements of society’s respectable values by means of exaggerated styles and insightful character traits.

6. Pantaloon rich, miserly old man
operates on the assumption that everything can be bought and sold
but he also loves money for its own sake and will therefore only part with it when there is no other option

7. Capitano or braggart
never indigenous to the town where the scenario is set and is able to seem high status as a result
arrogant
the whole world is an audience. Stops whenever he sees the actual audience and makes a salutation so that he can be admired

8. Il dottore usually of high social status
gives the other characters a break from physical exertion by his tiresome wordiness

9. Harlequin
usually servant to the Pantaloon, but also to Capitano or Dottore
has the intelligence to hatch schemes, although they rarely work out
complications of plot often derive from his mistakes
aware of audience and makes asides

10. Comedic Devices Banter playful/witty remarks and harmless teasing
Explanation
Banter
playful/witty remarks and harmless teasing
Blenderword
combination of words to make new words
Blunder
actor makes foolish, yet funny, mistakes
Black/Dark Humor
humor about grave topics, such as death, murder, etc.
Caricature
exaggeration of a person’s mental, physical, or personality trait in a wisecrack form
Freudian Slip
a funny statement which seems to pop out of nowhere but actually comes from the person’s subconscious thoughts

11. Comedic Devices
Device
Explanation
Farce
entertainment by means of unlikely, improbable, and extravagant situations
Irony
what is expected isn’t what occurs (situational)
Sarcasm
a kind of particularly cutting irony, in which praise is used tauntingly to indicate its opposite meaning
Parody
the use of imitation to mock or make fun of
Repartee
speech with witty comebacks and clever replies; similar to banter
Wisecrack
a witty remark thrown in at the perfect timing

12. Comedic Devices
Device
Explanation
Foil
a character who is used as a contrast to another character; The use of a foil emphasizes the differences between two characters, bringing out the distinctive qualities in each. This contrast may be used for a comedic effect.
Inversion
the taking on of the gender role of the opposite sex; It is also defined as a reversal of position, order, form, or relationship. It refers to situations or circumstances where the normal hierarchy of power is reversed.

13. Comedic Devices Hyperbole
Explanation
Hyperbole
a figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express a strong sentiment or create a comic effect; Also called overstatement, hyperbole does not express the literal truth; however, it is often used to capture a sense of intensity or to emphasize the essential nature of something.
Under-statement
the opposite of exaggeration/ hyperbole and is a form of irony; It is a figure of speech that consists of saying less than what is really meant or saying something with less force than is appropriate.

14. Comedic Devices
Device
Explanation
Pun
a play on the multiple meanings of a word or on two words that may sound alike but have different meanings
Wordplay
is the witty exploitation of the meanings and ambiguities of words (In other words, it’s when one character takes the meaning of a word in a different direction than was originally intended.)

15. Device Explanation comedic devices Banter
Playful/witty remarks and harmless teasing.
Blenderword
Combination of words to make new words.
Blunder
Actor makes foolish, yet funny, mistakes.
Black/Dark Humor
Humor about grave topics, such as death, murder, etc.
Caricature
Exaggeration of a person’s mental, physical, or personality trait in a wisecrack form.
Freudian Slip
A funny statement which seems to pop out of nowhere but actually comes from the person’s subconscious thoughts.
Farce
Entertainment by means of unlikely, improbable, and extravagant situations.
Irony
What is expected isn’t what occurs.
Parody
The use of imitation to mock or make fun of.
Pun
A line that exploits the different possible meanings of a word or two words that simply sound a like.
Repartee
Speech with witty comebacks and clever replies.
Sitcom
Humorous drama based on day-to-day life.
Wisecrack
Witty remark thrown in at the perfect timing.