Cover Image
QR Code

Laughter, Skepticism, and the Pleasures of Being Misunderstood in Laurence Sterne's The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman.

A literary criticism is presented of the book "The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman" by Laurence Sterne. Emphasis is given to the theme of comic pleasure and the cultural status of laughter in relation to sociability and misunderstanding. Other topics include eccentricity, the role of...

Full description

Published in:Eighteenth Century: Theory & Interpretation Vol. 55; no. 4; pp. 355 - 376
Main Author: Holm, Melanie D.
Format: Literary Criticism
Published: University of Pennsylvania Press Winter2014
Subjects:
Life & Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, The (Book)
Sterne, Laurence, 1713-1768
Laughter in literature
Wit & humor in literature
Sociability
Sympathy
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
Summary:A literary criticism is presented of the book "The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman" by Laurence Sterne. Emphasis is given to the theme of comic pleasure and the cultural status of laughter in relation to sociability and misunderstanding. Other topics include eccentricity, the role of wit in sympathy, and the relationship between judgement and social strife.