ELEMENTS OF COMEDY

ACTIVITY
ALEJANDRO DURAN, JUAN ANNICCHIARICO AND JUAN GUTIERREZ
THE ORIGINALITY
OF HUMOUR

- This is a pertinent pillar of

any good comedy. The ability
of the writer to express and
elicit sentiments and feelings
of the characters is crucial to
get the same investment and
response from the readers and
audiences.
THE ORIGINALITY OF HUMOUR

If you are trying to copy some one’s funny

jokes, they won’t sound funny coming out of
your mouth for sure. Humour needs to be
creative and unique as an old joke does not get
too many new laughs.
TIMING AND RHYTHM

• This is the most crucial element of any

comedy. There are rhythm and pattern of
every comedy. Its words work as beats and
if the writer misses the beat the comedy
loses its impact. The use of exact words at
the exact moment of times and situations
can be the difference between people
laughing because of the writing or on it.
EXAGGERATION
• Humor that intensifies some aspect of a character or a condition.
• Physical quality: “I was skinny. I’d turn sideways and disappear.”
Ability: I was such a bad student that in middle school I flunked
lunch.
• Condition: “There were thirteen kids in my family. We were so
poor we had to eat cereal with a fork, so we could pass the milk to
the next kid.”
SLAPSTICK

• Is a type of physical comedy characterized by broad humour,

absurd situations, and vigorous, usually violent action. The
slapstick comic, more than a mere funnyman or buffoon, must
often be an acrobat, a stunt performer, and something of a
magician—a master of uninhibited action and perfect timing.
MERCHANT OF VENICE SUMMARIES

Act 2 Scene 6
As planned, Gratiano and Salarino meet in front of Shylock’s house. They are worried
because Lorenzo is late, and they think that lovers tend always to be early. Gratiano
expounds on Salarino’s theory that love is at its best when the lover chases the object of
his affection, and that once the lover captures his lady and consummates the
relationship, he tends to tire and lose interest. Lorenzo joins them, apologizes for his
tardiness, and calls up to Jessica, who appears on the balcony dressed as a page. Jessica
descends and exits with Lorenzo and Salarino. Just then, Antonio enters to report that
Bassanio is sailing for Belmont immediately, then Gratiano is obliged to leave the
festivities and join Bassanio.
SCENE 7

• Back in Belmont, Portia shows the prince of Morocco the caskets, where he will

attempt to win her hand by guessing which chest contains her portrait. The first
casket, made of gold, is inscribed with the words, “Who chooseth me shall gain
what many men desire”. The second, made of silver, reads, “Who chooseth me
shall get as much as he deserves”. The third, a heavy leaden casket, declares,
“Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath”. The prince chooses the
gold casket, reasoning that only the most precious metal could house the picture
of such a beautiful woman. He opens the chest to reveal a skull with a scroll in its
eye socket. After reading a short poem relating to his choice, the prince leaves.
SCENE 8

• Having witnessed Shylock’s rage upon learning of Jessica’s elopement,

Solanio describes the scene to Salarino. Shylock, railed against the loss of his
daughter and his ducats, shouted a loud and urgent appeal for justice and the
law to prevail. Solanio hopes that Antonio can pay his debt, but Salarino
reminds him of rumors that the long-awaited ships have capsized in the
English Channel. The two men warmly remember Bassanio’s departure from
Antonio, wherein the merchant insisted that his young friend not allow
thoughts of debt or danger to interfere with his courtship of Portia.
SCENE 9

• The prince of Arragon is in Belmont to try his luck at winning Portia’s hand in
marriage. When brought to the caskets, he selects the silver one, confident that
he “shall get as much as he deserves”. Inside, he finds a portrait of a blinking
idiot, and a poem that condemns him as a fool (HAHA). Soon after he departs,
a messenger arrives to tell Portia that a promising young Venetian, who seems
like the perfect suitor, has come to Belmont to try his luck at the casket game,
hoping that it is Bassanio, Portia and Nerissa go out to greet the new suitor.