唐頓莊園中的英式幽默分析

IIITableofContentChapterOneIntroduction 1ChapterTwoAnOverviewofBritishHumor 22.1TheConnotationofBritishHumor 22.2FeaturesofBritishHumor 3ChapterThreeTheRepresentationofBritishHumorinDowntonAbbey 43.1UninhibitedTopicofRepresentation 43.1.1TheDailyLivesoftheCharactersintheManor 43.1.2ThePoliticsandInstitutionsofthePeriodbeforeandafterWorldWarI 53.1.3SensitiveTopicsonLifeandDeath,Religion 53.2Metaphorical,Self-deprecatingandIronicThemeofRepresentation 63.2.1TheClassDifferencesbetweenMaryandHerServant 63.2.2TheOptimismofMatthew 73.2.3TheAristocraticSpiritoftheOldLady 73.3ExaggeratedandAbsurdFormofRepresentation 83.3.1Tought-provokingLinesandDialogueinthePlay 83.3.2CharacterswithDistinctPersonalitiesinthePlay 93.3.3UnexpectedScenesinthePlay 9ChapterFourTheCauseofBritishHumor 114.1CulturalFactors 114.2PoliticalFactors 114.3EconomicFactors 124.4NationalCharacterFactors 12ChapterFiveConclusion 14Bibliography 15Acknowledgements 16保定理工學(xué)院本科畢業(yè)論文保定理工學(xué)院本科畢業(yè)論文1

ChapterOneIntroductionWiththein-depthdevelopmentofeconomicglobalizationandtheincreasingfrequencyofculturalexchanges,itisveryimportanttoexperiencecultureindifferentcontexts.Filmandtelevisionworkshavegraduallybecomeanimportantchanneltopromoteculturalexchanges.DowntonAbbeyisapopularfilmandtelevisionworkinrecentyears.ItnotonlyhasagoodreputationintheUK,butalsosucceedsintheworld,winningthe63rdEmmyAwardforBestMiniseriesandthe64thEmmyAwardforBestSupportingActress,69thGoldenGlobeAwardforBestMini-Series,70thGoldenGlobeAwardforBestSupportingActressawardsandotherawards,whichhashadawideimpactintheUKandaroundtheworld.AlthoughDowntonAbbeytakesthelifeofthearistocracyasthecore,itshowsthevarietyofBritishsocietyandthelivingconditionsofdifferentclasses.ButitisalsoatypicalexampleofBritishhumor.TheplaydescribesafictionalmanorinYorkshire-DowntonAbbeyduringthereignofKingGeorgeVin1910,theEarlofGranthamhasnochildrenunderhisknees,andtheissueoffamilyinheritancehascausedvariousentanglements,andcountlesssparkshavebeensparkedunderthestricthierarchybetweentheupperclass,betweenfamilies,andbetweennoblesandtheirservants.Allclassesintheplayhaveahumorousside,whichperfectlypresentsthecharacteristicsandgenerationconditionsofBritishcoldhumor.Amongthenobles,gentlemeninteractwitheachotherwithmutualrespectanddecencyasthecore,andpayattentiontotheirwordsanddeeds,theeleganceoftheirposture,andthedecencyoftheirwords,sothehumorofnoblegentlemenandladiesismoresubtle;ThepeopleofDowntonAbbeyareverymeasuredintheirwordsanddeeds,andtheyareproudtoworkonthislargeestateandproudoftheirwork.Theirhumorisverycheerful,sometimesbanter,sometimesforfun.Evenintheeventofanaccidentordisaster,Britain’sprideandstrengthareondisplaythroughhumor.Soonthesurface,itisaBritishdramathatpursuesrigoroushistoricaldetails,butinsideitsubtlycontributesa“Britishpoisonoustonguehumormanual”foreveryone,andeventakesustoreallyunderstandtheinterestingsideoftheBritish.

ChapterTwoAnOverviewofBritishHumorHumorisatradition,anationalessence,anationalcharacteristicinBritain,andenjoysahighstatus.Britishhumorisbynomeansafastfoodculture,neverwithexaggeratedexpressionsandvulgarlanguagetoearnthelaughterofothers,theirhumor,isakindoflanguageart,itpaysattentiontorestraintandsubtlety,usingalargenumberofpuns,absurdplots,wittycounterwordsandsatiricalself-mockery.2.1TheConnotationofBritishHumorItiswellknownthatBritishhumorisanimportantpartofhumorousculture,anditisfar-reachingandcharismatic.TounderstandBritishhumor,itisnecessarytostartfromitsdefinition,historicalsourcesandessence.ThedefinitionofBritishhumorisageneraltermforcertaincomediceffectsoflanguageandactionsthatemanatedfromEnglandanditsformercolonies.Inthisregard,itisnotdifficulttofindthatBritishhumorhasalonghistory,andbecauseofthecomplexityofitsformationreasons,itsstyleisprominentandrichincharacteristics.BritishhumorisactuallymainlyderivedfromBritishculture,andreliesonBritishhistoryandcurrentculture.Firstofall,althoughBritainisverymodern,thereisstillastrongsenseofhierarchyinitsculture.Thereisasenseofaristocracy,characterizedbyseriousnessandintelligence.TheEnglishmanlikestoexpressserioussubjectswithhumor,toshowhisintelligence,hisculturaltaste.Thishumoriseitherinsightfulorwitty,andthisisthecore.Moreover,Britishhumorpaysattentiontowordingandlikeslanguagegames,whichshowsthattheyadvocateelegantculture,notpopularhumor.ThemostimportantfeatureofmodernBritainistheformationofamodernindustrializedcountry,andoneofthemaincharacteristicsofthemodernindustrialproductionsystemisthesuppressionofpersonality,whichrequirespeopletobelikepartsontheproductionline,sotheBritishhumorhasresistancetothisrepression.Thatkindofresistanceisasenseofhumorthatmakespeoplelaugh,becausepeoplearerepressedandafraidtoresist.TheessenceofBritishhumorisaconfrontationwiththeseriousproductionsystem.

2.2FeaturesofBritishHumorBritishhumorisknownascoldhumorbecauseitisrestrainedandsubtle,containsalargenumberofpuns,anti-words,absurdplots,ironyandself-mockery,andisgoodatusingvariousexpressiontechniques,suchassimiles,metaphorsandsoon.TheseelementsappearwidelyintheBritishpress,literature,andfilmandtelevisionprograms.TheBritishholdtheviewthattheyshouldnottakeBritishhumortooseriously,theyliketosaysimplethingscomplicated,thatrepresentstheurgencyofemotion,thestrengtheningoftone,thatisthewisdomofBritishhumor.Inadditiontocomplicatingsimpleproblems,theBritishcanalsoconversely,downplayimportantthingsandtreatthemas“jokes”.Themoreimportantsomethingis,thelessyoucantalkaboutitseriously.TheBritishdefinethemselvesas“understatedhumor”thisway.IronyistheessenceofBritishhumor,whichmainlyremindsthereadertopayattentiontotheunspokenmeaningbyunderstatingorexaggeratingthings.TheBritisharemastersofSelf-deprecation,whetherit’severydaydialogueathome,ordinaryconversationsinbars,orinterviewsonTV.Becauseoftheirtolerance,theBritishliketolaughatthemselves,laughingattheirownpredicamentratherthanthefailuresofothers.EasingtheatmosphereandembarrassmentinthiswayispreciselywherethewisdomoftheBritishlies.Finally,thereistheuseofpunsandwordgames,whichrefertotheuseoflinguisticstructuralfeaturestocreatetwoormorestructuresthatresembleorsoundtoproducehumorouseffects.NewspaperslikeTheEconomistandTheGuardianoftenhavepunheadlines,andBritishnewspapersalsohaveplentyofcrosswordpuzzles.Inshort,Britishhumoralsohasmanyuniquecharms,learningtounderstandBritishhumorismoreaboutunderstandingBritishcultureandcommunicationmethodsandapplyingittodailylearningandcooperation.

ChapterThreeTheRepresentationofBritishHumorinDowntonAbbeyHumorisanartandaculture,whichcarriesalargenumberofculturalexchangesandcooperationtoacertainextent.Britishhumorisanimportantpartofhumorousculture.TheBritishhumorcultureinDowntonAbbeyisveryrepresentative,showingtheuniquecharmofBritishhumorculture,andprovidinguswithanextremelyvaluablewaytolearnandmasterBritishhumorculture.ThroughtheanalysisandstudyofBritishhumorinDowntonAbbey,wecanunderstandtheconnotationandcharacteristicsofBritishhumorculture.Onthisbasis,PeoplecanmastertheexcellentexpressiontechniquesandexpressionskillsofBritishhumor,andpromotethedevelopmentofhumorculture.TheexpressionofBritishhumorisdiverse,itcanexpressthetopic,theme,formofBritishhumor.3.1UninhibitedTopicofRepresentationManyBritishTVshowsshowcasingBritishhumorhavebecomequitepopularintheworld,whichhasbecomeagreatwaytoshowcaseBritishculture.AndDowntonAbbeyisaverygoodfilmandtelevisionworkshowingBritishhumor,andthethemeofstrongironyandself-deprecationrunsthroughBritishhumor.Theemotionalcomponentofhumorisoftenhiddenbeneaththesurface,makingitsometimesdifficultforpeoplefromotherculturestofeel.Britishhumordiscusseseverythingandhardlyanysubjectistaboo.Itisuninhibited.3.1.1TheDailyLivesoftheCharactersintheManorThedailylifeofDowntonAbbeyisverymuchinlinewiththetraditionalaristocraticlife,andtheirlifecentersonlyonhowtodressandparty.Therefore,inacalmandpeacefullife,itisalwaysfulloffun,andthetopicsshownonthesideforBritishhumorarecloselyrelatedtodailylife,oritcomesfromlife.Forexample,inanordinarylifesituation,themaidoftheoldladywantstogohometovisithermother,andtheoldladysaidthateveryoneshouldhaveslightlyfeltthathermaidisaboutto‘leave’.Othersrepliedthatmayshegetthrough?Theoldladysaidthatit’snotthatHermaidisgoingtodie,it’sjustthathermaidwantstoleaveher,shekeepstalking,hermotherisgettingweaker,butsoisshe,whydon’tshethinkaboutit.Itmakespeoplelaughheartily,andtheexaggeratedexpressionisverymuchinlinewiththecharacteristicsofBritishhumor.Insuchanordinarydialogue,peopleunderstandleavingasdeath,thusformingamisunderstanding,whichfullyreflectsthecharacteristicsofBritishhumoriscold.WhenMrs.Lawleyisquippedaboutkindness,theoldladysaidthattheauraofangelshasalwayslingeredaboveLawley’shead.Suchhumorousbuteverydayconversationsmakepeoplefeelveryintimate.ThetopicofBritishhumoriswide-rangingbutnotdetachedfromreality,makingpeoplefeelvividbutnotetherealtounderstand,andmoreunderstandable.3.1.2ThePoliticsandInstitutionsofthePeriodbeforeandafterWorldWarIThestoryofDowntonAbbeybeganin1912andendedinthemid-twenties,lastingmorethanadecade.ThebackgroundoftheseriesistheperiodoftransformationofBritishsocietyfrommoderntimestomodern,economic,politicalandculturalchanges,andthesituationinEuropeandeventheworldisalsointurbulentchanges.Inthishistoricalcontext,CountGranthamsaidthatnoshipsinksbeforeitsinks.Thisisverycontradictory,thiswayofspeakingseemstobeanonsensebutveryphilosophical.ThisisacommentonthesinkingoftheTitaniconthesurface,butcombinedwiththebackgroundofthetimes,itwasintheearlystagesoftheoutbreakoftheworldwarandthesituationwaschaotic.Astheownerofthemanor,Granthamfacedturmoilatthistime,whichwasmorelikehishelplessnessaboutthepoliticalsituationandpoliticalsystematthattimeandhisconcernaboutthefutureofthemanor.Butheusedthesunkenshipasahumormetaphorforthepoliticsofthetime,andsatirizedthesituationinahumoroustone,thissentencealsocleverlyuseshumortodefusethetenseatmosphereatthattime.Daisy,themaidinthemanor,asthebottomofthesocietyatthattime,washumorousandhadboldlyborrowedBritishhumoroussatiricalpoliticstoexpressherdissatisfaction.ItcanbeseenthattheobjectofBritishhumoristalkedaboutwithouttaboos,andthepeopletotalkaboutarealsothroughalmosteveryclass.Inthefieldofpopularculture,ridiculeofpoliticshavebecomeamajorfeatureofBritishhumor.OurusualBritishhumoriscloselylinkedtopoliticalallegory.Britishhumorissharp,pursuingphrasingandlanguagegames,fullofself-deprecationandridicule.3.1.3SensitiveTopicsonLifeandDeath,ReligionTheclassicBritishdramaDowntonAbbeybeginswithaweddingandendswithafuneral.ThedeathoftheCount’smotherwasnottheendforher,butanewlife.InChineseculture,beforeapersondies,thereshouldbeasolemnandsadatmospheretoshowrespect.Butthecountesssaid，Bequiet,shedoesn’twanttohearherdeath.Theoldladyisstillfullofgoldenwords,eveninthefaceofherowndeath,shecanbecometheobjectofherownridicule.Atthesametime,inthefaceoftheunexpecteddeathofMary’sformerlover,shecanalsopullpeopleoutinasadatmosphere.Andatthedinnerattendedbythewholefamily,somefemaledependentssaidthattheywereunwellandmightbesick,andtheyleftoneafteranother,andtheoldladyquicklyrecalledanoldstoryaboutinfectiousdiseases,sherememberedthattherewasaParisball,manypeopledancedandleft,andfinallythedancepartywasnotover,andhalfoftheguestsonthedancefloordied.Suchsensitivetopicsaboutdiseaseanddeatharealsoignored,whichshowsthatthroughthishumor,thereisanattitudetolife,livingcalmlyanddyingfrankly.ThisisalsooneofthemostvaluableattitudesandqualitiesbehindBritishpeopleconveyedbyBritishhumor.3.2Metaphorical,Self-deprecatingandIronicThemeofRepresentationBritishhumorischaracterizedbyalwaysbeinghopefulaboutlife,eveninthemostdesperateandembarrassingsituations.ItwasthisoptimisticandtenaciouscharacteroftheBritishthattouchedcountless.ThisalsofitswiththethemeofBritishhumorinDowntonAbbey.TheubiquitousoptimismandhumorofdifferentclassesreflectthedistinctclassconceptofEngland,andtheoccasionalmodeofgettingalongbetweenthenoblesandnoblesinthemanoralsoreflectsitsaristocraticspirit.Anditssubjectmattercanbesaidtobemetaphorical,self-deprecating,ironic.3.2.1TheClassDifferencesbetweenMaryandHerServantDowntonAbbeyhascontradictoryrhetoricalhumor,profoundBritishhumor-metaphor.Forexample,whenMarytoldMatthewaboutherrelationshipwithPamuk,shecomparedherselftoTess,aptlyexpressinghercurrentsituation,thismetaphorcomesfromafamousbook,whichisinlinewithMary’ssocialstatusandeducationlevel,andalsoreflectshercalmandconservativecharactertoacertainextent.ThelastsentenceisalsotypicalBritishhumor.Marysaidthatsheislookingforamillionairewhodoesnotreadthenewspaperbecauseshescandalisabouttobeinthenewspaper.Whichisaclearself-deprecation.Atthesametime,italsoreflectstheprideandself-esteemofMary’saristocraticclassAnotherrepresentativemetaphorhastobementionedhere,inthesecondepisodeofthesecondseason,whenEdithsaidthatshewouldhelpthefarmerdrivethetractor,theoldlady’swordsarecute.ShesaidthatEdith,youarealady,notMr.ToadintheToadPalace.suchaptmetaphorscomeoutofhermouththattheaudiencecan’thelpbutapplaudthisquiethumor.Theshowalsohasanotherformofmetaphorthatcomesfromdifferentclasses.Whendescribedsomeoneelse’ssleepystate,theChiefcooksaidthatwhatareyoudoing?Sleepyallday,evenSleepingBeautyhaslosttoyou.Whendescribedsomeonetalking,shedescribedothersasturningtoadictionary.Herhumorismoredown-to-earth.FromthesedifferentBritishstylesfullofrichhumanfireworks,wecandeeplyappreciatethedifferencesinhumorandrhetoricofdifferentclasses,andthehumorofMissMaryandtheoldladyisforthesamewell-educatedpeople,althoughtheaudienceisnarrowbutprofound;Thechef’shumoriseasytounderstand,simpleandclear,vulgarbutfullofhumor.ThiselegantandvulgarformofhumorisalsosubmissiveinDowntonAbbey,makingthewholeshowmorecomedicandexpandingtheaudience’saudience.3.2.2TheOptimismofMatthewBritishhumorischaracterizedbyalwaysbeinghopefulaboutlife,eveninthemostdesperateandembarrassingsituations.Theself-deprecationoftheBritisharistocracyismorecommon,whichisrelatedtoBritishculture.Thiskindofself-deprecationcanrelieveone’sownembarrassingsituation,andsometimesfindastepdownforothers,whichisverysuitableforBritishhumor.ItisthisoptimisticandtenaciouscharacteroftheBritishthattouchedcountlessaudiences.Forexample,Matthewintheplay,heisarepresentativeofthemiddleclass,andthereisacertaingapbetweentheeldestmissMary.Butwhentheeldestladymockedthattheirunionisacombinationoftheprincessandtheseamonster,helaughedathimselfthatonlytheseamonsterknowstheprincessbettercanheconclude,whichshowedthathehadahealthyandpositiveattitude,andusedhisuniquehumortorelievetheembarrassmentandgotridoftheembarrassingsituation.Hewasexhaustedwhenhislegsneverreturnedtonormalbecauseofaspinalcordinjury.Helaughedself-deprecatinglyandsaidthatsuddenly,walkingfreelyonhislegsmightbeaniceChristmaspresentforhim.Thiskindofself-deprecatinghumorcanbesaidtobeakindofbravery,andthecharactersintheplayoftenusethisself-deprecatingwaytocomfortthemselveswhenthesituationisnotgood,andtheycomeoutoftheshadowsandfacethesun.Thischaracterisalsoveryinfectious,likethewarmsuninwinter,quietlygivingtheaudiencegreatpowerinthesubtle.3.2.3TheAristocraticSpiritoftheOldLadyIronichumorisanimportantpartofBritishhumor.TheoldladyinDowntonAbbeylaidthishumortothefullestasaclassiccharacterintheplay.Asthemistressofthemanor,shehadanoblestatus,wasatypicalrepresentativeofthenobility,presidedovertheaffairsofthemanor,andhadsharpwords.Theoldladylookedmajesticandinviolable,hadadeepunderstandingoftheworld,andalsoshowedanaristocraticspiritinher.Shesaidthatwon’tyoubecoldonthemoralhighground?Thislinehadalmostbecomeasatiricalquoteofthemoralvillain,seeminglysaidinahumorousandrelaxedtone,butithighlightsthestrongsenseofmoralityinthespiritoftheEnglisharistocracy.Forexample,inthearistocraticparty,Carsonsaidthathardworkismoreimportantthanappearance.Buttheoldladydirectlyrepliedthatifonlythiswerethecase.Sheridiculedhimforwearingthesameclothesasbuyinginsurance.Thismakestheaudiencelaugh.Leavingasidetraditionalconcepts,theoldlady’ssupposedsolemnimageisverymuchlikethenaughtyfemaleclassmateswholovetoridiculeinourlives.ButitalsoshowsfromthesidethattheBritisharistocracypaysgreatattentiontoitsownimageandpaysattentiontothesenseofhonor.Anotherimpressivethingisthataftertheservantbrokethevase,theoldladysaidthatit’sokay,it’sjustaweddinggiftfromaveryscarygirl,whichhasblockedtheeyesforhalfacentury.Itsarcasticallysaidthatlackofcompassionisasvulgarasexcessivesentimentality,andexhortedusthatwhentragedystrikes,wecanneitherblameothersnorourselves.Heretheoldladyisstillhumorous,andshowsthatthetruespiritofnobilityliesnotinmaterialprosperitybutinspiritualabundance,theyaretolerantofothers,sympathetictotheweak.3.3ExaggeratedandAbsurdFormofRepresentationTheBritishhaveauniquehumorandtheyhavealotoflaughs.Theydon’tcareabouttheoccasion,butthewordsareveryappropriateandveryappropriatetouseinspecificsituations.Itsexpressionformisexaggeratedandabsurd.TheplotofDowntonAbbeyembodiesunpretentiousandthought-provokingBritishhumor,fullofjoyandreason,andBritishhumormakesthisshowshinewithwisdomeverywhere.3.3.1Thought-provokingLinesandDialogueinthePlayLanguagehumorisanimportantpartofBritishhumor,andtheclassiclinesinDowntonAbbeyareevenmorememorable.Humorousdialoguecanmediateawkwardness,easerelationships,andsoothepeople’shearts.WhenMaryandMathewfirstmet,theywerenotparticularlyongoodterms,becauseMathewdidnotwanttomarrythecount’sdaughterinordertoinherittheproperty.ButasheslowlygetsintocontactwithMaryandlearnsMary’ssincerityandkindness,Mathewbeginstofallinlovewiththecount’sdaughter.WhenMathewsaidthatMarywasnotveryenthusiastic,Mary’sresponsewasstillaproudtone,butMathewcleverlyusednonsensicallanguagetodecompressthetoneofbothsides.Mathewsaidthatthereisnomountainthatcannotbecrossed,andthereisnoshipthatwillneversink.ItcanbeseenthatthecharmofBritishhumorTherearealsofrequentgoldensentencesoftheoldladyintheplay,whichcanalsobecomeaclassicinfilmandtelevisionworksrelatedtoBritishhumor.Forexample,theoldladysaidthatherselfiswomantoo.SheissochangeablethatevenSheisafraidofherself.Youarenervousbecauseyouaresmart,andfoolscanhavecourage.Andthemorepreciousthingaboutthishumorisnotsimplyforfun,butalsointheconnotation,wisdomandenlightenment.3.3.2CharacterswithDistinctPersonalitiesinthePlayDowntonAbbeyshowsBritishdryhumoreverywhere:amongthenobles,gentlemeninteractwitheachotherwithmutualrespectanddecencyasthecore,andpayattentiontotheirwordsanddeeds,theeleganceoftheirposture,andthedecencyoftheirwords,sothehumorofaristocraticgentlemenandladiesismoresubtle;ThepeopleofDowntonAbbeyareverymeasuredintheirwordsanddeeds,andtheyareproudtoworkonthislargeestateandproudoftheirwork.Theirhumorisverycheerful,sometimesbanter,sometimesforfun.Evenintheeventofanaccidentordisaster,Britain’sprideandstrengthareondisplaythroughhumor.Thesehumorsaremainlyreflectedintheshapingofthecharactersintheplay,suchastheshapingofthecharacterimageofMosleyintheplay,everytimeheappears.Hishelplessmovementsandexpressionswithnowheretohidewillmakepeoplesmilefromeartoear,hedyeshishairforthepersonhelikes,andasaresult,hewasaskedbythecountifhehadItalianbloodbecausehewastoostrange;Mrs.Patmore,whocooksinthekitchen,oftenreciprocateswiththevaletinvariousafter-breakwords,sothatthevalettakesthefoodandruns;Inadditiontomakinggooduseofsatiricalhumor,theoldladyintheplayalsohasherownimage,butsheistough,herfaceiswrinkledbutfullofspirit,almostallthegoldensentencescomeoutofhermouth,andthequietcoldhumordeeplycapturestheheartsoftheaudience.Thecharactersintheplayareallvividandlifelike,withfleshandbloodHere,whetheritisthebrightlydressedEarlofGranthamorthelowlycooks,theyallhaveakindandwarmheart,andtheyallcarryBritishhumorwiththeirownuniquelabels:CountGranthamiswise,Maryiscalm,andEdithiskindandwarm.Suchformsofcharactershapingaboundinthisshow,andthesevividcharactershapingalsomaketheBritishhumorinthisshowexudeauniquecharm.3.3.3UnexpectedScenesinthePlaySurpriseisanimportanttechniqueinBritishhumor.Whenusingthistechnique,firstforeshadowacertainscene,guidethereader’snormalthinkingforward,andthensuddenlyreverse,soastoachieveunexpectedhumorouseffects.DowntonAbbeyrevolvesaroundthelivesofthenoblesandservantsinthemanor,andalthoughitisahistoricalfilmandtelevisiondrama,therearemanylightheartedandhappyhumoroustimesthatmakepeoplelaugh.Onceagain,wedeeplyfeltthecharmofBritishhumordisplayedbythecharactersintheplay.Inthethirdepisode,When

Muk

died

unexpectedly

in

Mary’s

room,

no

one

knew

what

to

do,

and

then

the

old

lady’s

first

words

began

to

reveal

her

true

nature.Theoldladysaidthatisthisreallytrue?Shereallycan’tbelievehelookedfineyesterday.Ofcourse,thiskindofthinghappenstoforeigners,theyalwaysdo.Atthistime,Marywasgrief-strickenandsaidthatdon’ttalknonsense.Theoldlady’seyeswidenedindissatisfaction.Howcanshesaynonsense,noEnglishmanwoulddreamofgoingtosomeoneelse’shousetobraid,especiallysomeonehedidn’tknowyet.Thissceneiscryingandlaughingandfeelsveryabsurd,butitalsoshowstheuniquehumoroftheoldlady,andcanmaketheaudiencelaughoutloudinsuchasadandserioussituation.

ChapterFourTheCauseofBritishHumorTheformationofBritishhumorisacombinationofmanyfactors,intermsofculturalfactors,Britishculturehasalonghistoryandisdeeplyinfluencedbygentlemanculture,sounliketheboastingofAmericanhumor,Britishhumorisimplicitandrestrained;Intermsofpolitics,theclasshierarchyinBritainisobvious,andtheself-deprecationinBritishhumorisformedbythenon-aristocraticclassexpressingitsowndissatisfaction;Intermsofeconomicfactors,Britainistheearliestindustrialcountry,capitalisteconomyisdevelopingrapidly,inordertoconsolidatethedevelopmentoftheeconomy,theBritisharegoodatcommunication,BritishhumoristheembodimentofthewisdomoftheBritishlanguage;Intermsofpersonalityfactors,theBritishareconservativeandreserved,andtheyusuallyshowadetachedattitude,soBritishhumorisakindofdryhumorthatisinseparablefromitspersonality.HumoristGeorgeMarksoncesaidthattheBritisharetheonlypeopleintheworldwhotakepridethemselvesontheirsenseofhumor.4.1CulturalFactorsBritishhumorhasaverydeepculturalelementthatdistinguishesitfromotherformsofhumor.TheBritisharemoreconservativeandpaygreatattentiontosubtletyandlow-keyininterpersonalcommunication,sothatpeoplegenerallymaintainacertaindistancefromeachother;Intermsofetiquette,theBritishattachgreatimportancetogentlemanlymanners,andgenerallydonotdirectlysarcasticorgag,otherwiseitcontradictsgentlemanculture;TheweatherintheUKisalsoverycharacteristic,andthegloomy,rainyclimatewillaffecttheformationofcharacter,sothatmostpeoplearemorelow-keyandreserved;TheinherenthierarchyofEnglandmakesthestratificationbetweenpeopleveryobvious,thearistocracyoftenuseshumorouslanguagetoshowtheirnoblestatusandelegance,whilethelowerclasspeoplegenerallysatirizelifewithahumorousattitude.Therefore,theaverageperson’sfeelingofBritishhumorisalways“alittlecold”and“alittlegray”.Britishhumorliesin“irony”,andjokesthatmakeBritishpeopl