What is comedy? Definition in literature
Each of us can probably explain in our own words what comedy is. However, if you try to put the definition of this concept on paper, you encounter difficulties, because explanations like “this is when it’s funny” sound too simple.
It is known that the understanding of the comic is attributed to the rites of antiquity.
We will now try to deduce what a comedy concept is.
The subject of comedy, its types
In literature, high types of comedy and puns are distinguished. High types include such works as “Don Quixote” by M. de Cervantes.
Types of comic
Before we begin to understand what comedy is in literature, let us first consider the types of comedy.
These include: humor, irony, satire, sarcasm, grotesque.
Humor can be defined as non-malicious laughter.
Irony is mockery based on criticism. Among Russian writers, Pushkin often used irony, for example, in the poem “Eugene Onegin”: “The girls jump in advance”, “In the village the horned one is happy.”
Sarcasm is the highest degree of irony and translated from Greek means “tearing meat.”
Satire is a way of reproducing reality, the purpose of which is unpleasant criticism.
The grotesque is easy to distinguish from other types of comics because it is difficult to separate the funny from the scary and terrible. This type of comic is characteristic of Gogol (“The Nose”) and Mayakovsky (“The Bedbug,” “Bathhouse”).
What is comedy in literature? Definition
From a scientific point of view, comedy is a special type of drama in which the conflict or opposition of characters is resolved in a specific way.
Wrestling in comedy is different in that it:
Does not lead to serious consequences;
Aimed at small, mercantile goals;
It is carried out in funny ways and means.
Comedy theme
In order to fully answer the question “what is comedy,” it is necessary to understand the peculiarities of its subject matter.
It certainly depends on the wants and needs of the class that creates it. Of course, the creators take into account the interests of those for whom it is aimed.
It is worth noting that comedic heat is very resistant to the effects of time. So, for example, from the times of antiquity to the present day, a scheme of intrigue has been preserved in which parents oppose the union of young people, but they are forced to accept it by a third party who helps the young people arrange happiness.
Types of Comedy
To answer the question “what is comedy,” it is necessary to understand what types of this genre can be distinguished.
The first type to be mentioned is the comedy of manners. It depicts human characters and their confrontation.
Now let's figure out what a sitcom is. In it, laughter is caused by certain ridiculous actions and behavior of the characters.
History of Comedy
Comedies have existed since ancient times. Aristophanes is considered the most famous author of that time. We have received information about 11 comedies written by this author in 425-388. BC e., for example “Clouds”, “Frogs”. Ancient comedies are characterized by ridicule of human vices, a clear tracing of the author's assessment of everything that happens.
The interlude (small comic play), farce (light comedy with external comic features), soti (sharp satire), fastnachtspiel (Mardi Gras play) appears.
The Renaissance is characterized by attention to. Among the authors of that time, the most famous is W. Shakespeare (“The Taming of the Shrew,” “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”). The main idea of this author's works is the idea of the dominance of nature over the human soul.
The era of classicism ridicules human vices and ignorance (Moliere's comedies, for example, “The Imaginary Invalid”).
Enlightenment calls on comedians to turn to common sense.
The era of romanticism gives us comedy based on the idea that the world cannot be perfect. In the 19th century, the features of the comic were associated with ideas about the aesthetic ideal, which included common ideas about human life. In Russian literature, this tendency is manifested in the immortal works of D.I. Fonvizina, A.S. Griboyedova, N.V. Gogol.
The literature of the 20th century is characterized by social and everyday comedies (V. Mayakovsky, M. Bulgakov).
This article examines in some detail the question of what comedy is. It should be noted that this genre is the most popular these days and enjoys special love, because, as you know, laughter prolongs life, and the opportunity to see the comical in life makes our everyday life brighter and easier.
