WorksheetsSeriously Funny - Comic Texts & Tropes
Total questions: 20
Worksheet time: 5hrs 0mins
Which statement best captures the relationship between humor and comedy (at least according to Dr. Eugene)?
There is no meaningful difference.
Humor is a natural instinct while comedy is the purposeful artistic usage of that instinct.
Humor is an older word while comedy is a more recent term.
Humor is instinctive while comedy is culturally determined.
Parody and satire are two forms of comedy that use __________, but satire is uniquely intended to _______________________.
metacomedy; mere entertainment
mockery; create commentary and social accountability
low humor; mere entertainment
outrageous and absurd plot devices; create social commentary and accountability
From "low" to "high," the correct ordering of the elements on the comedic ladder is
farce, comedy of manners, low comedy, comedy of ideas
low comedy, comedy of manners, comedy of ideas, farce
low comedy, farce, comedy of manners, comedy of ideas
low comedy, farce, comedy of ideas, comedy of manners
In Mark Twain's "The Story of the Old Ram," the comedic effect of the story as a whole is enhanced by which of the following contrasts? (check all that apply)
The extreme formality of the frame narrator vs. the regional dialect of the main narrator
The frame narrator's expectation vs. the actual outcome of the story
The reader's natural expectation of an organized story vs. the main narrator's use of non-sequitur
The absurd events in the main narrator's story vs. the dialect in which he speaks
Which of the following language features are used for comedic effect in this quote from "The Story of the Old Ram"? (check all that apply)
"And then Robbins died, and at the funeral he bursted off the lid and riz up in his shroud and told the parson to let up on the performances, becuz he could not stand such a coffin as that."
dialect
dark humor
satirical persona
timing
In "Trevor, Pray," Trevor Noah tells his reader a story in which a misunderstanding over a child's bathroom usage inspires a religious gathering of every woman in his neighborhood for the purpose of casting a supposed demon out of their home. The increasing absurdity of the events in this story could be best described as . . .
satirical.
farcical.
understated.
metacomedic.
At the end of "Trevor, Pray," Trevor's mother asks him to pray for the destruction of the "demon" that defecated in their home. This moment can be considered ironic because _________________________________.
she doesn't know that Trevor himself is actually the "demon" while the audience does know.
she is only pretending not to know that Trevor is the "demon" in order to trick him into confessing.
there is no such thing as a demon.
Trevor's prayers aren't actually special in the way that his mother believes them to be.
Which of these images does NOT show a moment of situational irony?
Which of the following IS ironic?
Meeting a person named June on the first day of June
"10,000 spoons when all you need is a knife"
I once forgot to take my lunch to work because I got distracted by my wife reminding me to take my lunch to work. (true story)
A doctor's child failing their science class
One week after the terrorist attacks of 9/11, the editor of Vanity Fair magazine declared that the attacks meant the end of irony. In hindsight, this statement is an example of . . .
cosmic irony
historical irony
chleuasm
litotes
When Congress invited Stephen Colbert to testify on migrant workers' rights, they probably expected a serious argument. Instead, they were treated to an absurd satire. This difference in outcomes is an example of . . .
situational irony
verbal irony
cosmic irony
metacomedy
The essential feature of any satire is the speaker or author's use of ____________, such as ________________.
dialect; Mark Twain's spelling of Jim Blaine's speech in "The Story of the Old Ram"
exaggerated impressions; Trevor Noah's enactment of colonialist exchanges
mycterism; Stephen Colbert pretending to agree with a congressperson he actually disagrees with
persona; Stephen Colbert pretending to be a right-wing news anchor on every episode of The Colbert Report.
At one point in the musical Hamilton, the actor playing Aaron Burr states that Martha Washington named her feral tomcat after Alexander Hamilton. The actor playing Hamilton then looks at the audience and declares, "That's true," drawing a laugh by means of . . .
sarcasm.
metadrama.
absurdity.
parody.
Which of the following are explanations for the comic effect of this quote from Chapter 1 of Trevor Noah's book Born a Crime? (check all that apply)
At the time I attended a private Catholic school known as Maryvale College. I was the champion of the Maryvale sports day every single year, and my mother won the moms’ trophy every single year. Why? Because she was always chasing me to kick my ass, and I was always running not to get my ass kicked. Nobody ran like me and my mom.
Frequent family conflict is a humorously unexpected explanation for athletic skill
The narrator's tone of pride is a humorously unexpected response to his mom's beatings
The description of the chase evokes slapstick imagery that appeals to low humor
The narrator is obviously using this one success to mock his mom for her many other failures
Which of the following are explanations for the comic effect of this quote from Chapter 1 of Trevor Noah's book Born a Crime? (check all that apply)
When I was little she always caught me, but as I got older I got faster, and when speed failed her she’d use her wits. If I was about to get away she’d yell, “Stop! Thief!” She’d do this to her own child. In South Africa, nobody gets involved in other people’s business—unless it’s mob justice, and then everybody wants in. So she’d yell “Thief!” knowing it would bring the whole neighborhood out against me, and then I’d have strangers trying to grab me and tackle me, and I’d have to duck and dive and dodge them as well, all the while screaming, “I’m not a thief! I’m her son!”
The timing created by the dash in the fourth sentence emphasizes a humorous contrast
A mother falsely calling her son a thief is an absurd contrast against "typical" parenting
The content of the quote presents a miniature comedy of ideas
The alliteration of "duck and dive and dodge" uses sound to emphasize the irony of the situation
Which of the following is the best explanation of the purpose of this quote from Chapter 1 of Trevor Noah's book Born a Crime?
Like indigenous peoples around the world, black South Africans adopted the religion of our colonizers. By “adopt” I mean it was forced on us. The white man was quite stern with the native. “You need to pray to Jesus,” he said. “Jesus will save you.” To which the native replied, “Well, we do need to be saved—saved from you, but that’s beside the point. So let’s give this Jesus thing a shot.”
To criticize indigenous people groups for adopting a foreign religion
To criticize white colonists for believing in a religion that Noah believes to be false
To criticize white colonists for using religion as a tool of oppression
To criticize his mother for believing in the religion of their oppressors
Which of the following quotes uses situational irony for humorous effect?
“Gentlemen, you can’t fight in here. This is the war room.”
—President Merkin Muffley (Peter Sellers), Dr. Strangelove
“Before you marry a person, you should first make them use a computer with slow Internet to see who they really are.”
—Will Ferrell
“I’m not superstitious, but I am a little stitious.”
—Michael Scott (Steve Carrell), The Office
Stan Fields: “Describe your perfect date.”
Cheryl: “That’s a tough one. I’d have to say April 25. Because it’s not too hot and not too cold. All you need is a light jacket.”
—Stan Fields (William Shatner) and Cheryl Frasier (Heather Burns), Miss Congeniality
Which of the following quotes uses an unexpected but relatable observation for humorous effect?
“Gentlemen, you can’t fight in here. This is the war room.”
—President Merkin Muffley (Peter Sellers), Dr. Strangelove
“Before you marry a person, you should first make them use a computer with slow Internet to see who they really are.”
—Will Ferrell
“I’m not superstitious, but I am a little stitious.”
—Michael Scott (Steve Carrell), The Office
Stan Fields: “Describe your perfect date.”
Cheryl: “That’s a tough one. I’d have to say April 25. Because it’s not too hot and not too cold. All you need is a light jacket.”
—Stan Fields (William Shatner) and Cheryl Frasier (Heather Burns), Miss Congeniality
Which of the following quotes uses a misunderstanding for humorous effect?
“Gentlemen, you can’t fight in here. This is the war room.”
—President Merkin Muffley (Peter Sellers), Dr. Strangelove
“Before you marry a person, you should first make them use a computer with slow Internet to see who they really are.”
—Will Ferrell
“I’m not superstitious, but I am a little stitious.”
—Michael Scott (Steve Carrell), The Office
Stan Fields: “Describe your perfect date.”
Cheryl: “That’s a tough one. I’d have to say April 25. Because it’s not too hot and not too cold. All you need is a light jacket.”
—Stan Fields (William Shatner) and Cheryl Frasier (Heather Burns), Miss Congeniality
Which of the following quotes uses word structure for humorous effect?
“Gentlemen, you can’t fight in here. This is the war room.”
—President Merkin Muffley (Peter Sellers), Dr. Strangelove
“Before you marry a person, you should first make them use a computer with slow Internet to see who they really are.”
—Will Ferrell
“I’m not superstitious, but I am a little stitious.”
—Michael Scott (Steve Carrell), The Office
Stan Fields: “Describe your perfect date.”
Cheryl: “That’s a tough one. I’d have to say April 25. Because it’s not too hot and not too cold. All you need is a light jacket.”
—Stan Fields (William Shatner) and Cheryl Frasier (Heather Burns), Miss Congeniality
