1. Weslaco East High School
TEST YOURSELF:
THE COMEDIC LADDER
English 4 AP / Mrs. Ramos
Weslaco East High School

2. _________________________________
Identify the type(s) of humor used in each example. Keep in mind that jokes can hit several levels at the same time.
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Low comedy- making fun of people; man encounters as opponent to an uncooperative universe.
- dirty jokes, gestures, vulgar behaviors and topics
- exaggeration of physical characteristics or deformities
Farce- making fun of situations; man as puppet of fate.
- mistaken identity, coincidences, mis-timings, irony
Comedy of Manners- using verbal wit; man as opponent to man
- clever speech, insults
- goal: elevation of one mind over another
Comedy of Ideas- making fun of society; man as thoughtful observer; satire

4. Comedy of Ideas, Farce
The overall comment of the cartoon is a serious one– that texting while driving courts death. This alone elevates the cartoon to “comedy of ideas” because of the societal implications of the act.
The cartoon is farcical because:
1) the texter is knowingly conversing with Death.
2) Death is amused by the fact that the texter tempts fate (and death).

5. “Public Schoolhouse Rock- Nouns”
(YouTube video)

6. Comedy of Ideas
This bit satirizes the state of public education. From the violence and presence of drugs to an inattentive principal, this stereotypes public schools as places to be feared rather than institutions of learning. In addition, the sketch exaggerates the dangers that young people sometimes face just by going to school, making the point that our children today have lost their innocence at an early age because of the lack of control exhibited in schools.
The use of the animation style and music from the popular “Schoolhouse Rock” series further mocks the state of education today by highlighting just how far society’s view has declined in the past few decades.
(View the original “Nouns” video.)

8. Low comedy, Comedy of Manners, Comedy of Ideas
Low comedy is represented by the exaggerated roundness of the children and the fact that every one of them is overweight.
The names of the exercises are puns, a hallmark of Comedy of Manners-type wordplay.
Overall, the cartoon suggests that there is a problem in our society both with the food young people eat and the fact that they do not get enough exercise.

9. “Hooters”
(YouTube video)

10. Low Comedy
The comedy centers on boob jokes, physical exaggeration and making fun of deformities.
The men are portrayed as overworked office drones who desire only food and eye candy.
A low standard for beauty in Middle America is mocked because the “hot” women are repulsive in a variety of ways.