1. Tragedy vs. Comedy

2. Tragedy vs. Comedy Inevitable Universal theme and appeal
Pro. Fails to achieve goals
Pro. Alienated from society
Pro. Average or better
Pro. Falls from place, status
Predictably unpredictable
Often time and place oriented
Intellectual, mental
Pro. Achieves goals
Pro. Often becomes leader, villain can be accepted
Pro. Less than average
Pro. Achieves in spite of shortcomings

3. 7 Causes of Laughter

4. Exaggeration Usually in the form of overstatement
Can be understatement
Can be a physical characteristic

5. Incongruity Anything that seems out of place, or out of character
Can be an unnatural sound, action, or a twist that changes the logical pattern of a play

6. Anticipation Looking forward to a laugh
Examples: banana peel, mistaken identity
May use a plant
May use Incompletion

7. Recognition Discovering hidden meanings
Can occur when we realize what is going to happen just before it does
The “take”

8. Ambiguity
Double meaning

9. Protection
Cruel, violent, and abusive actions and events can cause laughter because the audience knows that they are not really happening and that the actors are in no real danger

10. Relief
When built up pressure is released, particularly when allowed to be released as a laugh.

11. “Better Off Dead”
As you view the film, find and list at least one example for each of the Seven Causes of Laughter