104 Pages
by Routledge

104 Pages
by Routledge

104 Pages
by Routledge

First published in 1972, this work pursues the question ‘what is comedy?’ In its quest for an answer it explores critical theory, psychology, sociology and metaphysics. It also examines the classical origins of comedy, different kinds of comedy, the rituals of comedy, its relationship with other idioms such as ‘satire’, irony’ and ‘farce’, and compares two major traditions: ‘Aristophanic’ and... Read more

General Editor’s Preface; Prefatory Note; 1 The Status of Comedy 2. Psychological Theories of Comedy 3. The Classical World 4. ‘Comic Relief’ 5. ‘Comical-Satire’ and ‘Tragi-Comedy’ 6. The Ritual of Comedy 7. Certain Relationships of Comedy 8. The Aristophanic and Shakespearean Traditions; Conclusion: The Metaphysics of Comedy; Bibliography; Index

Biography

Moelwyn Merchant