Wit and humour

look at the picture and answer the questions that follow.

1.What do you understand from the picture?

A.The rat is pointing a pistol at the cat and intimidating him. I understand that it is a funny picture. One can easily open one's lips without knowing to smile on seeing this unusual picture.

2.Can you recall anything comic associated with these animals ?

A.Yes. I can recall an incident which happened a long time ago in any old house. We used to see many mice in our old house because we stored paddy bags in the house. One day our pet cat jumped on a little mouse which was eating the paddy grains. The little mouse began running. Our cat ran after it. The funny thing was that the mouse did not run away from the place. It began running around the paddy bags. After some time both the cat and the mouse stopped running as they were tired much, At that stage .I interfered and drove the cat away to save the life of the cat.

3.Can you imagine, what may be the conversation between the rat and the cat ?

A.Conversation between the rat and the cat:

Rat : Hands up!

Cat : Don't shoot me. I will not eat you.

Rat : No, I don't believe you. You are cruel.

Cat : Believe me. I decided not to eat rats.

Rat : I don't believe you. You ran after me yesterday, didn't you?

Cat :Yes. But not to kill you.

Rat : Then, why?

Cat :I just wanted to tell that I would not kill you thereafter. Well, how did you get the pistol?

Rat : I stole it from the owner of the house last night. Cat OK. Do you know how to shoot with it?

Rat :I will not tell you.

cat   : OK Bye.

Rat :Bye

4.How do people differ in enjoying humour: young and old; rural and urban; literates and illiterates?

A.Humour styles differ for different individuals. People of all ages and backgrounds engage in humour, but the way they use it can vary greatly. Humour has been shown to be a personality characteristic that remains relatively stable over time.

The literate people like affiliative style of humour. It is defined as the style of humour used to enhance one's relationships with others in a benevolent, positive manner. Individuals high in this dimension often use humour as way to charm and amuse others, ease tension among others and improve relationships.

 The illiterate people like aggressive humour. It is a style of humour which is characterised by the use of sarcasm, put-downs, teasing, criticism, ridicule and other types of humour. Children like 'self-defeating humour'. It is the style of humour characterised by the use of potentially detrimental humour towards the self in order to gain approval from others. This type of humour is associated with lower-levels of esteem, psychological well-being and intimacy.

Self-enhancing humour is a style of humour related to having a good-natured attitude toward life, having the ability to laugh at yourself, your circumstances and the idiosyncrasies of life in constructive manner. It is used by individuals to enhance the self in a benevolent, positive manner. This type of humour is liked and used by the elders.

Oral Discourse

Role play- (based on the Scene depicted in the picture).).

A.Scene 1

Cat : (running after the rat) You can't escape from me this time. I'll kill you and eat you to my heart's content.

Rat  : (while running) Please leave me. Don't chase me. I'm a tiny creature. Be kind to me. Don't harm me.

Cat  : (Luckily the rat enters a hole and escapes from the cat.) Now 1 take a vow that I'll catch you and kill you next time. Go how many clays can you protect yourself from me? One day or other I'll see your end.

Scene- II:

At midnight the owner of the house in which the rat lives is asleep. He is a police officer. He always keeps his pistol under his pillow. Now it, somehow, fell on the ground. The rat sees it and takes it to his hole with a great effort.

Rat : (himself) Ha ... now I'll be safe. The God gave me an opportunity and provided me with this pistol. I'll frighten my enemy with this pistol and drive away from this house. If the situation demands, kin. Ca m S him. (Thinking so, it goes asleep.)

scene -III

Next morning the cat happens to see the rat and is about to chase him.

Cat  :This is the last day of your life. Today no one will save you from me.

Rat : (looking angrily) Stop talking nonsense! From now onwards no one can frighten and kill me. (laughing a bit loudly) Ha—ha...ham I've got a pistol. You bloody cat! Hands up!

Cat : (shivering with fear) Don't shoot me. It's not a toy. pistol.

Rat  : I know that. I'll shoot you. Every day you chase me whenever you see me.

Cat : Hereafter I never chase you. Please believe me.

Rat  : You are my enemy. How can I leave you and how can I believe your words?

Cat  : If you leave me now, I'll leave this place forever. There won't be any trouble with me.

Rat : It's OK if I see you again, in these surroundings, you'll certainly be killed in my hands.

Cat : Thank you for your kind heart. (leaves that place in silence.)

The Dear Departed - I

summary

The Dear Departed by Stanley Houghton is a social drama. It is a satirical one-' act play. It explores not only family relationships and the falsehood but also hypocrisy and greed that often lie beneath it. The story exposes the sad fact that human beings often become de-humanized in the face of greed and minor material gains. It shows how love, compassion and respect is being swallowed by greed in the society. This satirical play gives you a lot to laugh about as well as a lot to think about.

In this play, Stanley Houghton satirises the degradation of moral values in the British middle class society. It throws light on the increasing trend in the society of leaving elderly generation abandoned and neglected. The story also supports the idea that the elderly generation has the right to live merrily according to their own decisions.

The story of the play begins with Mrs. Slater telling her ten year old daughter, Victoria, to go upstairs and put on her black dress as a symbol of mourning. Her husband Henry Slater comes home after sending a telegram to his sister-in-law, Elizabeth, and her husband Jordan to come to talk over the affairs of Merry weather (father of Elizabeth and Mrs. Slater) who is presumably dead. Henry wonders if they would come because Elizabeth has said she would never set foot in Mrs. Slater's house again. But Mrs. Slater hopes that she will certainly come for her share in their father's property.  

 Mrs. Slater wants to steal three things of her father i.e., her father's new slippers,  a valuable‘ clock and a bureau before Elizabeth and her husband. come. Mrs. Slater asks her husband to wear her father's new slippers and brings a valuable clock down. She and her husband replace their shabby chest of drawers with the valuable bureau of her father (Abel Merry weather). After all arrangement and shifting, her sister Mrs. Jordan and her husband Ben Jordan enter the house for Mr. Abel's mourning.

Sisters kiss each other and men shake hands. Mrs. Jordan says that he has gone at last and asks her sister whether she had sent for the doctor. Then they talk about his paying the premium. Mrs. Slater gets tea ready. They consider the announcement in the papers and think of some appropriate verses. Then they say that they will look through his things and make a list of them. Mrs. Slater tells Victoria to run upstairs and fetch the bunch of keys on her grandpa's dressing table. She is afraid to go but goes very scared and tells that grandpa is getting up. They are transfixed  With amazement.

Glossary

D'ye :

Do you (used in awkward situation) .

Precocious (adj) :

intelligent / gifted / talented .

Bureau (n) :

a writing desk with drawers .

Daft (adj) :

stupid / silly .

Pinch (v) : 

steal . 

Mantelpiece (n) :

a shelf projecting from the wall over the fireplace .

Usher (v) :

lead / show the way / welcome .

Complacent (adj) : 

self-satisfied / unconcerned .

Chirpily (adv) :

cheerfully and actively .

Snug (v) : 

warm, comfortable and protected from the cold .

Overdue (adj) : 

not paid by the expected time .

Swindling (v) :

cheating somebody for property or money .

Transfixed (v) :

became motionless in fear .

Chuckling (v) :

a quiet laugh of mild amusement or satisfaction .

Clad (adj) :

wearing a particular type of clothing .

Malicious (adj) :

hatred / harmful.