Comedy Flashcards
Name 3 types of comedy that Bernard shaw used
Satire, comedy of character, comedy of ideas
What is satire comedy
Satireis comedy that sends up people and events, ridiculing and mocking weaknesses to create the humour. To expose flaws.
What is comedy of character?
Focuses on the absurdities and eccentricities of the characters rather than plot development. Laws of characters.
What is comedy of ideas?
A sophisticated form of comedy where characters represent particular ideas or world views.
Give me an example of comedy of character from act one
Comedy of character from act one was when Higgins character was so different and funny that he couldn’t help himself from correcting Clara’s pronunciation. This happened just before Clara left and and before Higgins (the note taker) met Pickering.
“THE NOTE TAKER [to himself, hastily making a note of her pronunciation of “monia”] Earlscourt.” This is funny as it shows how absurd Higgins character is as he is so focused and obsessed with his job he simply can’t help himself from constantly doing it.
Give me an example of comedy of ideas from act one
Comedy of ideas in act one was funny when Higgins showed everyone how overconfident he is in his abilities at his job. This was just before he mocks Eliza for the way she speaks.
Higgins: “I can place any man within six miles. I can place him within two miles in London. Sometimes within two streets.”
This is funny as most people don’t go bragging to others about how much they enjoy their job and how good at it they are, but Higgins is so strange and has no social skills that he thinks it’s normal to boast like this.
Give me an example of satire comedy from act one
Satire comedy from act one of pygmalion was whenever Higgins ridicules and mocks Eliza in front of an audience of people. This was just after he was boasting about himself and his job.
Higgins: “A woman who utters such depressing and disgusting sounds has no right to be anywhere—no right to live.”
This is funny as Higgins had just finished boasting about how great at his job he was but he doesn’t care one bit about what people think of his personality as he obviously doesn’t care about others especially if they are lower class.
Give me an example of comedy of character from act 2
Comedy of character from act two was whenever Higgins denies having bad manners and swearing whenever he had previously swore in his last sentence. Even though he is extremely intelligent he is so oblivious to other things that he regularly does. This was whenever Higgins sat down to eat his breakfast with Pickering.
Higgins: “[loftily] I cannot charge myself with having ever uttered it, Mrs. Pearce.”
This is funny as it shows that even though Higgins is so intellectually focused he can still be oblivious to simple things. This makes his character look funny.
Give me an example of comedy of ideas from act 2
Comedy of ideas was used in act 2 of pygmalian when Higgins shows how interested he is in something from a lower class as if it is strange and never seen before. This was when he came down for breakfast.
Higgins: “ Don’t burn that, Mrs. Pearce. I’ll keep it as a curiosity. [He takes the hat].”
This is funny as he is so unaware of his surroundings that he finds an interest in just an old dirty hat. This is funny as he has such a strange view on the world that he doesn’t live in.
Give me an example of satire comedy from act 2
Satire comedy from act two was when Higgins judges and makes fun of Doolittle because he says he is too poor. This is whenever Doolittle comes to Higgins home to get money.
HIGGINS: “ [revolted] Do you mean to say, you callous rascal, that you would sell your daughter for 50 pounds?”
This is funny as Higgins doesn’t understand how badly Doolittle needs money, he is mocking him because he came asking for money as he was basically selling his daughter. This is funny as he’d rather get money for a drink than have his own daughter.
What’s physical comedy
Something that is physically happening and is funny
What’s verbal comedy
When something funny is sadi
