Scholarly record

THE LAST ARISTOCRAT AND THE CZECH HUMOUR

J. Waldnerova

Abstract

The paper focuses on humour, the phenomenon that has many forms of manifestation and whose level of comicality depends on a particular culture. Czech culture is quite well-known for its sound representation in this area, and this will form a certain background allowing a better understanding of the target text. The main objective of the paper dwells in the application of actual theories of humour, especially S. Attardo's and V. Raskin's, into its identification and explanation in the contemporary Czech novel series Last Aristocrat written by Evzen Bocek. These very well received texts should provide enough material to trace the main authorial methods employed in the creation of comical outcomes. Bocek's humour often appears as grim and sarcastic and the writer usually builds it from opposition of the two basic conceptions: the aristocratic versus profane and ludicrous). Another important element is humour producing incongruence that leads the joke formula method. As the analysis shows, in creating humour, the author prefers these methods to other, perhaps more sophisticated techniques like world-plays, humorous transformations, imitations or parody. His use of certain names (local and international celebrities) is also connected with this manner of creation as well as the function of naive narrator that brings a certain level of satire to the text. Compared to classical examples of Czech humorous literature (HasekВ’s The Good Soldier Svejk, or Smojak-SverakВ’s Jara Cimerman), BocekВ’s novels show certain downfall in the quality of the story that is rather subordinated to frequency and level of its humour. The final part of the text explores causality of such trend of writing in the context of contemporary times and society, as their reflection.

Publication details

Back to publication list