  Comedy
This week: Edited by: Mavis Moog  
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I hope to amuse you and inspire you to write more comedy.
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An Insult to Ones Sense of Humour
I think we all enjoy a laugh at the expense of others sometimes. This schadenfreude aspect to humour may be less than wholesome, but it deserves some exploration, don't you think?
One of the richest sources of this sort of humour is the world of insult. I love the ridiculous insult as well as the subtly barbed put down. Here are some fine ones from those terribly nice people; literary greats.
"Conrad spent a day finding the mot juste: then killed it." ~ Ford Madox Ford (1873-1939) on Joseph Conrad (1857-1924)
"He is a system of assumed personas." ~ H. G. Wells (1866-1946) on Ford Madox Ford (1873-1939)
"He is the old maid among novelists." ~ Dame Rebecca West (1892-1983) on H. G. Wells (1866-1946)
"His imagination resembles the wings of an ostrich." ~ Thomas Babington Macaulay (1800-59) on John Dryden (1631-1700), English poet.
This is one of my favourite poems. I am often tempted to use it as a signature on my reviews of poor poetry, but that would be mean  .
"With Donne, whose muse on dromedary trots,
Wreathe iron pokers into true-love knots ;
Rhyme's sturdy cripple, fancy's maze and clue,
Wit's forge and fire-blast, meaning's press and screw."
~ Samuel Taylor Coleridge writing an elegant critique of Donne's poetry.
Fictional Insults
Insults can be used to great comic effect in writing. When Baldric claims that he has a cunning and subtle plan. His master, Blackadder, says,
"You wouldn't know a subtle plan if it stripped naked, painted itself purple, danced on the table and sang, Subtle Plans are here again."
This terrible defamation of fat woman, Nell, by Dromio, in Shakespeare's, Comedy of Errors (act III, scene ii) is another note-worthy example.
"No longer from head to foot than from hip to hip:
she is spherical, like a globe;
I could find out countries in her."
The scene goes on to name the countries he finds in different parts of her obese body, managing to insult whole nations as he goes.
Political Insults
No matter what your political colour, it is difficult not to laugh at some of the insults hurled in the persuit of rational debate.
"If they will stop telling lies about the Democrats, we will stop telling the truth about them." ~ Adlai Stevenson on the Republican party.
This observation by Bejamin Disrali about Robert Peel could almost have been said about the more recent Conservative politician, Michael Howard;
"The right honourable gentlemen's smile is like the silver fittings of a coffin."
Winston Churchill was well-known for his caustic wit. Here he describes the Labour Party;
"They are not fit to manage a whelk stall."
Here he shows his disdain for Clement Atlee;
"An empty taxi arrived at 10 Downing Street, and when the door was opened, Atlee got out."
Henry Kissenger summed up the behaviour of politicians the world over;
"Ninety percent of the politicians give the other ten percent a bad name."
I urge you all to sharpen your pencils and have a little fun with insults - only in your fiction of course. Colourful diatribe can be wickedly funny, so have a go, and see if your characters cannot pop and sizzle off the pages for you. |
Look out for the medal winning rhymes in this one.
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I love the absurdity of this story.
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Do you know what you say when you're sleeping?
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Some surreal consequences.
An unusual perspective.
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scarlett_o_h
Yet another great Newsletter and some wonderful picks for readers to enjoy.
Poor Roger - hope the snow has disappeared now. My mother struggles to remember what day it is most of the time but as we conclude, it doesn't really matter as long as she enjoys them.
Love the jokes and quotes too.
shaara
Great personal stories. I enjoyed them thoroughly.
Smiles,
Shaara
Thank you Scarlett and Shaara. - MM
Beyond the Cloud9 
I must say, your mother-in-law is one smart lady!! She had you all fooled! Delightful newsletter, Mavis. Had me grinning ear to ear!
Oh, she's smart alright. I love her dearly though, and wouldn't want her to lose her sense of fun. - MM
Tehanu
Thanks for making me laugh!
schipperke
This newsletter was funny even at 6 AM! Your new guest will be a source of inspiration for loads of your writing: comedy, drama, you name it!
windac
Absolutely loved the MIL and Roger stories! Well done yet again.
My pleasure. Thanks for your encouraging support. - MM |
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Comedy: April 05, 2006 Issue [#961]
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