Question- What do you understand by Humour ? Also write the characteristics and kinds of it.

Ans-

Humour - The term 'Humour' has been derived from the theory of humorous. Humour was first applied to the subject matter of laughter in the 18th century to distinguish the genial and affirmative forms of comic writing, then greatly in vogue, from satire, mockery and ridicule. Laughter as Darwin observed: "Seems primarily to be the expression of mere joy or happiness: It abounds especially in states of play. But in these states a secondary laughter seems to arise, associated not with joy of happiness in general, but with a specific emotional pleasure in experiences which would be frustrating or distasteful if taken seriously. This laughter and this quality of feeling are the Kernal of what we call humour."

Humour is used as a generic term for everything that appeals to man's disposition toward comic laughter. Humour means a talent for being able to put oneself at will into a certain frame of mind in which everything is estimated on lines that quite often to off the beaten track and yet on lines that follow certain principles. True humour springs not more from the head than from the heart. It is not contempt. Its essence is love. It issues not in laughter but instill smiles which lie for deeper.

Characteristics -

(i) Humour is based on insight and sympathy.

(ii) Humour is the bloom and perfume of a deep, fine and loving nature.

(iii) It is self-sufficient of the forms of the comic.

(iv) The essence of humour is human kindliness.

(v) At its best humour is some what fluid and transitory element.

(vi) The first law of humour is that things can be funny only when we are in fun.

(vii) The second law is that when we are in fun, a peculiar shift of values takes place.

(viii) The third law is that 'being in fun' is a condition most natural to childhood and that children at play reveal the humorous laughter in its simplest form.

(ix) The fourth law is that grown-up people retain in varying degrees this attitude for being in fun, and thus enjoy unpleasant things as funny.

Kinds - There are all kinds of humour. Some is derisive, some sympathetic, and some merely whimsical. The is just what makes comedy 30

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much harder to create than serious drama. People laugh in many different ways and they cry in only one. Humour lubricates the mind. It is the salt of life. It sweetens that heart. When humour issues out as a physical phenomenon, it manifests itself as laughter. The importance of humour to man is considerable. The sense of humour is a man's inseparable companion and playmate. It is the sense within us which sets up a kindly contemplation of the incongruities of life and the expression of that sense in art.

The aim of humorist is to discover a new relationship between men and things and his method is observation. The province of a humorist consists in human nature which is as abroad as human life itself. Humour is often genial and all embracing. It has the effect of the sunshine that warms and inspires feelings and it shines over the good and the evil and with equal sympathy.

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