The Comic Mode in English Literature From the Middle Ages to Today

'The Comic Mode' is an introductory guide to comedy in English literature that systematically applies comic theory to a wide range of texts including poetry, prose and drama. Beginning with a critical exploration of historical and philosophical theories of humour, the book goes on to apply those theories through close-readings of a wide range of major texts, authors and genres from the Medieval period to the present. The Comic Mode in English Literature examines such texts as: Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream; Pope's The Rape of the Lock; Austen's Emma; Dickens' The Pickwick Papers; Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest; and, Amis' Lucky Jim. Murray Roston is Emeritus Professor in the Department of English at Bar Ilan University, Israel and Adjunct Professor at the University of Calfornia, Los Angeles, USA.