The Comedy Ladder
THE COMEDY LADDER
COMEDY OF IDEAS / At this level, the characters argue about important issues like war, gender, marriage, religion, class, and government. Different views on the issues are pitted against each other in a display of wit (or lack of). The comedy looks at the foolish ideas behind an issue and ridicules the thinking and approach to the debate. Satire is a type of comedy of ideas; it is often irreverent and challenges the conventional thinking on issues.COMEDY OF MANNERS / Sometimes defined as “the amorous intrigues of the aristocratic classes.” Using Clever insults, put-downs, puns, paradoxes, and epigrams this type of comedy revolves around wit and verbal banter and wordplay. Often it doesn’t hesitate to sacrifice a character’s sensitivity to the cause of witty dialogue. Characters are usually divided into 3 different groups: the true wits, the would-be wits, and the witless.
FARCE / This type of comedy is built on mistaken identities, coincidences, and mistimings. Characters are often under the influence of fate and have little control over it. Also employs coincidences, doublings, or obstacles – such as twins, busybody parents, unhappy engagements, and marriage that happen at just the wrong time. Money and class often shape the action.
LOW COMEDY / Laughter at this level usually involves the dirty joke, dirty gesture, or body parts or functions. This comedy often uses physical mishaps, pratfalls, slapstick, and loud collisions.
*This material was adapted from the handout Pre-AP: Strategies in English –
Comedy and Tragedy: Balancing the Classroom
THE COMEDY LADDER
COMEDY OF IDEAS / At this level, the characters argue about important issues like war, gender, marriage, religion, class, and government. Different views on the issues are pitted against each other in a display of wit (or lack of). The comedy looks at the foolish ideas behind an issue and ridicules the thinking and approach to the debate. Satire is a type of comedy of ideas; it is often irreverent and challenges the conventional thinking on issues.COMEDY OF MANNERS / Sometimes defined as “the amorous intrigues of the aristocratic classes.” Using Clever insults, put-downs, puns, paradoxes, and epigrams this type of comedy revolves around wit and verbal banter and wordplay. Often it doesn’t hesitate to sacrifice a character’s sensitivity to the cause of witty dialogue. Characters are usually divided into 3 different groups: the true wits, the would-be wits, and the witless.
FARCE / This type of comedy is built on mistaken identities, coincidences, and mistimings. Characters are often under the influence of fate and have little control over it. Also employs coincidences, doublings, or obstacles – such as twins, busybody parents, unhappy engagements, and marriage that happen at just the wrong time. Money and class often shape the action.
LOW COMEDY / Laughter at this level usually involves the dirty joke, dirty gesture, or body parts or functions. This comedy often uses physical mishaps, pratfalls, slapstick, and loud collisions.
*This material was adapted from the handout Pre-AP: Strategies in English –
Comedy and Tragedy: Balancing the Classroom
THE COMEDY LADDER
COMEDY OF IDEAS / Example Clip:
Reason as to how this clip fits this type of comedy:
Other Examples:
COMEDY OF MANNERS / Example Clip:
Reason as to how this clip fits this type of comedy:
Other Examples:
FARCE / Example Clip:
Reason as to how this clip fits this type of comedy:
Other Examples:
LOW COMEDY / Example Clip:
Reason as to how this clip fits this type of comedy:
Other Examples:
*This material was adapted from the handout Pre-AP: Strategies in English –
Comedy and Tragedy: Balancing the Classroom
THE COMEDY LADDER
COMEDY OF IDEAS / Example Clip:
Reason as to how this clip fits this type of comedy:
Other Examples:
COMEDY OF MANNERS / Example Clip:
Reason as to how this clip fits this type of comedy:
Other Examples:
FARCE / Example Clip:
Reason as to how this clip fits this type of comedy:
Other Examples:
LOW COMEDY / Example Clip:
Reason as to how this clip fits this type of comedy:
Other Examples:
*This material was adapted from the handout Pre-AP: Strategies in English –
Comedy and Tragedy: Balancing the Classroom