Understanding British Comedy
British comedy is an important part of the culture in the UK. It includes a long tradition of making people laugh, often by poking fun at ourselves and our society. Let’s break down some key points about British comedy.
Historical Roots
- Medieval Jesters: In the past, kings and wealthy nobles had jesters. These jesters told jokes and made fun of people in the royal court. They were allowed to speak freely and often pointed out the silly things that people did.
- Shakespeare’s Plays: Famous writer William Shakespeare included funny characters in his plays. These comic characters added humour and made the stories more enjoyable.
- Political Cartoons: In the 18th century, people started to draw cartoons that made fun of politicians and even the Royal Family. These cartoons helped people laugh at serious issues.
- Satirical Magazines: In the 19th century, satirical magazines like Punch became popular. These magazines used humour to comment on society and politics.
Modern Comedy
- Music Halls: Comedians were very popular in music halls. This was a type of theatre where people performed different acts, including comedy. Famous duos like Morecambe and Wise started their careers here before moving to television.
- Television Comedy: As television became more popular, new styles of comedy developed.
- Sitcoms: These are funny shows that focus on family life or workplace situations. They are still very popular today.
- Satirical Shows: Shows like That Was The Week That Was and Spitting Image used humour to comment on current events.
- Monty Python: In 1969, Monty Python’s Flying Circus brought a new style of comedy, known for its absurd and surreal humour.
- Stand-Up Comedy: This is where a single comedian performs in front of a live audience. Stand-up comedy has become popular again in recent years.
Questions for Practice
Easy Level Questions
- What did jesters do in medieval times?
- A) Sang songs
- B) Told jokes
- C) Danced
- D) Made food
- Who included comic characters in his plays?
- A) Charles Dickens
- B) William Shakespeare
- C) J.K. Rowling
- D) George Orwell
- What type of cartoons became popular in the 18th century?
- A) Funny cartoons
- B) Political cartoons
- C) Animal cartoons
- D) Sports cartoons
- What was the name of the famous satirical magazine in the 19th century?
- A) The Observer
- B) Punch
- C) The Times
- D) The Guardian
- What is a sitcom?
- A) A serious play
- B) A type of music
- C) A funny television show
- D) A dance performance
- Who were Morecambe and Wise?
- A) Singers
- B) Comedians
- C) Actors
- D) Dancers
- What does satire do?
- A) Makes people cry
- B) Comments on society using humour
- C) Tells scary stories
- D) Teaches lessons
- What year did Monty Python’s Flying Circus start?
- A) 1950
- B) 1960
- C) 1969
- D) 1975
- What is stand-up comedy?
- A) A group performance
- B) A solo performance in front of an audience
- C) A musical show
- D) A dance show
- Which TV show looked at family life?
- A) Newsnight
- B) Friends
- C) Strictly Come Dancing
- D) The Office
Medium Level Questions
- Why were political cartoons important in the 18th century?
- A) They entertained children
- B) They made fun of serious topics
- C) They were used for advertising
- D) They were drawn by famous artists
- What did the music halls feature?
- A) Only music
- B) Variety acts including comedians
- C) Movies
- D) Sports events
- What type of comedy did Monty Python introduce?
- A) Romantic comedy
- B) Progressive comedy
- C) Historical comedy
- D) Musical comedy
- What did Punch magazine focus on?
- A) Science
- B) Politics and society
- C) Sports
- D) Cooking
- What was That Was The Week That Was known for?
- A) A cooking show
- B) A satirical news show
- C) A children’s program
- D) A travel show
- Who were the stars of television after starting in music halls?
- A) Charles Dickens and George Orwell
- B) Morecambe and Wise
- C) Monty Python
- D) The Beatles
- What is a common theme in sitcoms?
- A) Horror stories
- B) Adventure
- C) Family life and relationships
- D) Science fiction
- When did stand-up comedy become popular again?
- A) 2000s
- B) 1980s
- C) 1960s
- D) 1950s
- What was a key feature of British comedy?
- A) Always being serious
- B) The ability to laugh at ourselves
- C) Focusing only on politics
- D) Only performing on stage
- What is the purpose of satire?
- A) To entertain children
- B) To provide serious news
- C) To make fun of serious subjects
- D) To tell stories
Hard Level Questions
- How did Shakespeare influence British comedy?
- A) By writing only tragic plays
- B) By including comic characters in his works
- C) By focusing solely on romance
- D) By avoiding humour in his writing
- What impact did Punch magazine have on society?
- A) It promoted serious news
- B) It used humour to critique society and politics
- C) It focused on sports
- D) It only published poetry
- Which comedy duo is known for their television success after music halls?
- A) Monty Python
- B) Morecambe and Wise
- C) The Two Ronnies
- D) The Office Cast
- How did the style of television comedy change over time?
- A) It focused only on music
- B) It developed sitcoms and satirical shows
- C) It stopped being funny
- D) It became more serious
- What is the significance of political cartoons today?
- A) They are no longer published
- B) They continue to comment on current events with humour
- C) They only focus on celebrities
- D) They are only found in magazines
- What did Monty Python’s Flying Circus challenge?
- A) Traditional forms of comedy
- B) The rules of theatre
- C) Audience expectations for serious plays
- D) The use of music in comedy
- What type of humour is commonly found in British sitcoms?
- A) Dark humour
- B) Absurd humour
- C) Light-hearted and relatable situations
- D) Historical events
- How did the music hall performances influence later comedy?
- A) By keeping comedy exclusive to live audiences
- B) By paving the way for television comedians
- C) By focusing solely on music
- D) By eliminating humour from performances
- How does satire help in society?
- A) It ignores serious issues
- B) It provides a way to discuss serious topics through humour
- C) It is only for entertainment
- D) It focuses only on local events
- In what way has stand-up comedy changed in recent years?
- A) It has become less popular
- B) It has transformed into live performances only
- C) It has gained more popularity with diverse topics and styles
- D) It now focuses only on political issues
Answer Key
Easy Level Answers
- B
- B
- B
- B
- C
- B
- B
- C
- B
- B
Medium Level Answers
- B
- B
- B
- B
- B
- B
- C
- A
- C
- C
Hard Level Answers
- B
- B
- B
- B
- B
- A
- C
- B
- B
- C
