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ENGL478A: Comedy and Cruelty - Coggle Diagram

- - - - "The Author's Prologue" and excerpts from Pantagruel by François Rabelais The lack of consistency which characterizes Rabelais' method of storytelling throughout Pantagruel is reflective of the novel's emphasis on adventure; each vignette seems to be independent of all others. In this way, the focus of the story is not on a designated plot, but rather on the mischief held in each chapter. The lack of consistency creates an amusing story that is not meant to be taken too seriously. Importantly, Rabelais seems to endorse this type of reading. Through the prologue's numerous hyperbolic and over-the-top claims, Rabelais mocks those who are overly serious.
      - "To the Sour Reader" by Robert Herrick Though "adventure" in this case does not refer to the more stereotypical idea of swashbuckling, Herrick does desire for his audience to adventure through his poems by being receptive to whatever they might find. For Herrick, prosperity comes when one is open to new--even ridiculous--ideas. Consequently, he encourages the audience to approach his poems with an open mind (or else!)
    - - The Palm-Wine Drinkard by Amos Tutuola Tutuola's novel is akin to a road trip film in which the crux of the story is the journey rather than the destination. Indeed, though the death of the narrator's palm-wine tapster is the catalyst for the plot, the story is really about the remarkable creatures he meets and the unbelievable situations he finds himself in along the way. Consequently, it seems as if Tutuola views life as an adventure meant to be enjoyed as there is a certain degree of playfulness in his story. But the narrator is ultimately left unsatisfied when he realizes his tapster cannot go with him. Rather than recognizing all that his journey brought him (a wife and fame, for instance), he derides his years-long journey as being futile: "All our trial, difficulties and many years' travel brought only an egg or resulted in an egg" (295). The novel ends with the narrator's desolation making the once-humorous adventure seem rather cruel.
      - "Treasures of an Opulent Fancy" by Ato Quayson In his analysis of The Palm-Wine Drinkard, Quayson affirms how Tutuola explores "the most frightening aspects of life outside of the village community" (46). While there is humor embedded in each vignette of the novel, the cautionary tales are also meant to frighten.
  - - - "To His Coy Mistress" by Andrew Marvell Like many other carpe diem poems, "To His Coy Mistress" concerns temporality and the passage of time. Yet, this poem does not instill the same sense of urgency as, say, "To the Virgins." The speaker of this poem is much more realistic about the aging process (evident in "Thus, though we cannot make our sun stand still, yet we will make him run") which makes the poem feel more playful than pressing. Crucially, this poem is all about the pleasures of romance rather than marriage. The emphasis here is on personal enjoyment rather than the threat of passing time.
      - "The Author's Prologue" from Gargantua by François Rabelais This playful-yet-practical prologue allows Rabelais to explore the importance of pleasure and revelry. He speaks of the fun associated with drinking and partying, but also suggests these are important pieces of a happy life (or as he says, "they're not just about mocking and scoffing, full of silliness and pleasant lies"). In other words, Rabelais is quite serious about the non-serious. Mirth-making has a much nobler purpose: making ethical instruction more palatable.
    - - "To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time" by Robert Herrick Though this poem is about making the most out of life, it has threatening undertones which compromises an otherwise joyous celebration of life. The speaker warns the audience to enjoy life in the moment, yet he ironically does not seem to allow himself to do the same; he is always preoccupied with the threat of the future. For instance, he does not enjoy the sun because he is too concerned with how "the higher he's a-getting," the "nearer he's to setting." Thus, this poem reveals a rather cruel way of dividing life into the temporary and the permanent. For the speaker of this poem, the temporary is the beautiful and the permanent is a source of anxiety.
      - "False Jews and Counterfeit Christians" by James Shapiro Centuries of anti-Semitism and forced conversions call what constitutes a Jew and what constitutes a Christian into question. Historical notions of "Jewishness" are often harmful or degrading stereotypes which serve to erase people's identities.