Humour

 

Humour

Humour is one of the most delightful and effective elements in literature. It refers to the quality of a work that makes the reader or audience smile, laugh, or feel amused. But humour is not just about making people laugh; it often has a deeper purpose. It can be used to point out the foolishness, weaknesses, or contradictions in human nature and society. In literature, humour lightens serious situations, provides relief, and often helps writers present truth in an attractive way.

The word humour originally came from the Latin word humor, meaning “fluid” or “moisture.” In medieval medicine, it was believed that human behaviour depended on the balance of four bodily fluids, called “humours”. A balanced mixture produced a good-tempered person, while an imbalance led to anger, sadness, or foolishness.

Purpose and Function of Humour

Humour serves many purposes in literature. Its most obvious function is entertainment. However, humour often has a deeper social or moral purpose. Writers use humour to criticise society, to expose the hypocrisy of individuals, or to comment on moral and political issues. By making people laugh, authors can make them think without causing direct offence. This is why humour has always been a powerful literary tool.

For example, in satire, humour is used to ridicule or criticise human behaviour and institutions. Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels and George Orwell’s Animal Farm use humorous exaggeration and irony to attack social and political corruption. Similarly, Charles Dickens in David Copperfield uses gentle humour to criticise the evils of industrial society.

Forms and Techniques of Humour

There are several forms and techniques of humour found in literature:

1. Verbal Humour – It comes from clever use of language, such as puns, wordplay, and witty remarks. Shakespeare’s plays are full of this kind of humour.
2. Situational Humour – This type arises from funny or unexpected events and coincidences. In ‘Comedy of Errors’, for instance, characters get into humorous situations because of mistaken identities.
3. Character-based Humour – Some characters themselves are funny because of their habits, speech, or behaviour. Shakespeare’s ‘Falstaff’ or ‘Nick Bottom’ are famous examples of comic characters.
4. Satirical Humour – This kind of humour has a moral aim. It mocks human vices, foolishness, or social injustice through exaggeration and irony. Writers like Swift, and Pope used this form.

Humour Across Literary Periods

During the Elizabethan age, Shakespeare combined humour and seriousness in his plays, creating a balance between laughter and tragedy. The Restoration period (17th century) gave rise to witty comedies of manners by writers like William Congreve and Richard Sheridan, which mocked the fashionable society of London.

In the Victorian era, humour became a tool for social criticism. Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, and Oscar Wilde used humour to expose the hypocrisy and pretensions of society. In the 20th century, writers such as P.G. Wodehouse created pure comedy through amusing characters and absurd situations, while others like George Bernard Shaw used humour to make serious social points.

*          *          *          *          *

 

 

Features of Drama

 

Discuss the Features of Drama as a Form of Literature

Drama is one of the oldest and most popular forms of literature. The word drama comes from the Greek word “dran,” meaning to do or to act. Drama is meant to be performed rather than just read. It presents human life and emotions through the actions and dialogues of characters on a stage before an audience.

The main features of drama as a form of literature are as follows:

1. Representation of Life through Action

Drama shows life in action. It does not describe events like a novel. It presents them through what the characters say and do. It is life seen through performance.

2. Dialogue

Dialogue is the most important element of drama. The story develops through the words spoken by the characters. Like novel form, there is no narrator to explain events. The audience understands everything through conversation and interaction among characters.

3. Characters

Drama depends on characters. Each character represents a particular quality, emotion, or social type. Their actions and speech make the play realistic and meaningful.

4. Conflict

Conflict is the heart of every drama. It may be an inner conflict within a character (mental struggle) or an external one between characters or between an individual and society. This conflict creates tension and interest, leading the play towards a climax and resolution.

5. Plot

The plot is the sequence of events that make up the story of the play. It generally has three parts:

• Beginning (Exposition): introduces the situation and characters.
• Middle (Climax): shows rising tension or conflict.
• End (Resolution): brings the story to a close.

A well-built plot keeps the audience engaged from start to finish.

6. Setting

The setting gives the time and place of the action. It may be a room, a palace, a battlefield, or any other space where events occur. In modern plays, setting also helps show social or emotional background.

7. Division into Acts and Scenes

Most dramas are divided into acts and scenes.

• An act is a major division, often showing a large part of the story.
• A scene is a smaller unit, often changing when the setting or time changes.
  This structure helps to organize the performance smoothly.

8. Stage Directions

The playwright gives instructions about movement, voice, or emotion through stage directions (usually written in brackets). These guide actors and directors in presenting the play effectively.

9. Theme and Message

Every drama has a central idea or theme. It may be love, ambition, power, jealousy, or social justice. The playwright uses the story to express a message or moral about human life or society.

10. Audience and Performance

Unlike novels or poems, drama always keeps the audience in mind. It comes alive only when performed on stage. The emotions, expressions, music, and movement together create an impact that written words alone cannot.

Conclusion

In short, drama is a living form of literature. It combines story, speech, and action to mirror human life. Its special features — dialogue, conflict, characters, and performance — make it different from other forms like the novel or poem. Drama not only entertains but also makes us think and feel deeply about the world we live in.