L'umorismo

Name: L'umorismo
Author: Luigi Pirandello

By Luigi Pirandello

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About This Book

The essay traces the term's linguistic and cultural history, distinguishing its material origin as bodily fluids from its later spiritual sense tied to temperament and melancholy. It surveys how different languages and periods shape comic sensibility, contrasts genuine comic temperament with satire, caricature, and farce, and critiques popular misuse of the term by journalism. Through close analysis of etymology, critical commentary, and comparisons among writers and national traditions, the work seeks a clearer definition of the quality commonly called humour and to delimit its boundaries relative to irony and other comic modes.

About the Author

Luigi Pirandello

Luigi Pirandello (1867-1936) was an influential Italian playwright, novelist, and short story writer, renowned for his innovative contributions to modern literature. He is best known for his exploration of identity, reality, and the nature of existence, often blurring the lines between fiction and reality. His most famous work, "Sei personaggi in cerca d'autore" (Six Characters in Search of an Author), exemplifies his unique style and philosophical inquiries. Pirandello's plays, such as "Enrico IV" and "L'umorismo," showcase his mastery of the theatrical form, while his novels delve into the complexities of human psychology. His legacy continues to resonate in contemporary literature and theater.