the contents page from
V.K.K.Menon ,
A Theory of Laughter,
Allen & Unwin, London 1931,
1 The Real Problem in Laughter - Laughter a psychophysical activity - A Demobilisation of Forces - Laughter and Smile - Laughter and Animals - Tickling - The Instinctive Nature of Laughter. |
2. Types of Laughter due to instincts and sentiments - particular importance of sentiments - difference between man and other animals - the mental conflict in laughter - the sense of humour |
3. The Nature of Humour - Goethe and Johnson on Humour - The Intellectual Nature of Humour examined - Humour in Relation to Sympathy, Imagination and Detachment |
4. Bergson and Humour - The Working of Humour - Humour in Relation to malignity, knowledge, sense of proportion - some of Bergson's observations criticised. |
5. Humour as Illustrated in Literature - confusions in the theories about it. |
6. Humour, Falstaff and Shakespeare, Anatole France, Rabelais and Cervantes. |
7. Particular Forms of Humour, Vituperations, Satire, Wit, Pun, Irony - Humour and Comedy. |
8. Ugliness and Beauty - The Meanings of the Terms - Relation to Art - Art and Science - Value of Criticism. |
9. The Psychology of Tears - The Nature of Sorrow - Pleasure and Interest - Our Feelings at the Sight of Suffering - The Matter of Tragedy - The Tragic Hero - Fate and Tragedy - The Feelings of Pity and Awe. |
10. The Shakespearian Practice - Romeo and Juliet - Julius Caesar - Hamlet - Othello - Macbeth - King Lear -. |