wordplay, create an amusing situation, or use physical

comedy. Often jokes may be incorporated into a play, or a

comic situation may result in a series of complicated

antics. The tradition for some of these comic devices has

been carried over for hundreds of years, dating back to

Shakespeare in the 1600's. In his play, A Midsummer Night's

Dream, Shakespeare creates humor through three diverse

devices: oxymoron's, malapropisms and mistaken identities.

All result in a farcical mix of comic situations.

Wordplay, such as the use of oxymorons, is an abundant

source of humor in Shakespeare. The word oxymoron comes

from the Greek meaning "pointedly foolish." Pointedly

foolish certainly applies to the mechanicals, whose

ignorance provides the root of all their comedy in the play.

For example, Quince refers to the play of Pyramus and Thisbe

as "the most lamentable comedy." (Iii 9) This does not make

much sense, since we would hardly express sorrow over a

comedy. However, as it turns out, the pathetic production

they eventually put on is so bad it actually is lamentable.

When Bottom says: "I'll speak in a monstrous little voice,"

reversal of situations are comic and the complexity of one

these devices creates one of the classic and brilliant

instead of too little. There is also dramatic irony because

Wordplay is not the only type of humor generated in

engaged to wed against Hermia's will. They all end up

exasperation is ironic, because now she has too much love

Some common words found in the essay are:
Bottom I'll, Lysander Demetrius, Hermia Demetrious, Dream Shakespeare, , Bottom Titania's, Hermia Hermia, Pyramus Thisbe, Nights Dream, Helena Helena, lysander loves, loves hermia, monstrous little, fall love, mistaken identities, hermia loves lysander, love instead, little voice, pointedly foolish, helena loves, hermia loves,
Approximate Word count = 908
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)