Humour in "Sredni vashtar": Faint and Dark

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İncesu F.

3rd International Akşit Göktürk Conference: Humour in Literature, İstanbul, Turkey, 11 - 12 October 2012, pp.91-103, (Full Text)

  • Publication Type: Conference Paper / Full Text
  • City: İstanbul
  • Country: Turkey
  • Page Numbers: pp.91-103
  • Open Archive Collection: AVESIS Open Access Collection
  • Istanbul University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Saki's short story "Sredni Vashtar" is centred on deprivation, antagonism and death. Yet, the writer treats the issues in control, indirection and irony. To these is the wistful and frank world of an imaginative child added. Thus, the bitter narration includes humour as well. The polarisation and discrepancy embedded in the subjects and themes of the tale involve and arouse laughter. ln parallelism with the child protagonist's inconvenient circumstances and resentment the humour in the narrative is not an easy, light and regenerative type.