The document discusses various techniques used by British playwright Alan Ayckbourn in his comedic plays, such as farce, verbal irony, situational irony, sarcasm, embarrassment, visual humor, verbal humor, and simultaneous actions. Ayckbourn is known for his use of deflation, where dramatic expectations are reversed, as well as irony in his plays which often depict ordinary life in humorous ways.

1. ALAN AYCKBOURN ‘S PLAY A SMALL FAMILY BUSINESS

2. COMEDIES SITUATION COMEDY A light hearted view at everyday life and the humorous effects of peoples’ actions

3. Dark comedy Black comedy is a sub-genre of comedy and satire in which topics and events that are usually regarded as taboo are treated in a satirical or humorous manner while retaining their seriousness. Synonyms include, black humor , dark humor , and morbid humor .

4. FARCE A comedy written for the stage or film which aims to entertain the audience by means of unlikely, extravagant, and improbable situations, disguise and mistaken identity, verbal humour of varying degrees of sophistication, which may include sexual innuendo and word play, and a fast-paced plotbwhose speed usually increases, culminating in an ending which often involves an elaborate chase scene. Farce is also characterized by physical humour, the use of deliberate absurdity or/of nonsense, and broadly stylized performances.

5. TECHNIQUES USED BY ALAN AYCKBOURN IN HIS PLAYS TECHNIQUES USED BY ALAN AYCKBOURN IN HIS PLAYS

6. DEFLATION SOMETHING DRAMATIC IS EXPECTED BUT EXPECTATIONS ARE REVERSED

7. IRONY

8. VERBAL IRONY Verbal irony is a disparity of expression and intention: when a speaker says one thing but means another, or when a literal meaning is contrary to its intended effect

9. DRAMATIC IRONY Dramatic irony is a disparity of expression and awareness: when words and actions possess a significance that the listener or audience understands, but the speaker or character does not.

10. SITUATIONAL IRONY Situational irony is the disparity of intention and result .Verbal irony is distinguished from situational irony and dramatic irony in that it is produced intentionally by speakers. For instance, if a speaker exclaims, “I’m not upset!” but reveals an upset emotional state through her voice while truly trying to claim she's not upset, it would not be verbal irony by virtue of its verbal manifestation (it would, however, be situational irony). But if the same speaker said the same words and intended to communicate that she was upset by claiming she was not, the utterance would be verbal irony

11. SARCASM Sarcasm is a form of humor that uses sharp, cutting remarks or language intended to mock, wound, or subject to contempt or ridicule

12. EMBARRASSEMENT THE CHARACTERS’ ACTIONS ARE SEEN AS EMBARRASING TO AN AUDIENCE BECAUSE OF WHAT THE EFFECT MIGHT BE

13. VISUAL HUMOUR ACTIONS RATHER THAN WORDS MAKE THE AUDIENCE LAUGH

14. VERBAL HUMOUR EXCAHNGES OF WORDSS, ON-LINERS, AND JOKES BETWEEN CHARACTERS

15. RUNNING GAG A device which often takes the form of an amusing joke or a comical reference and appears repeatedly throughout a work of literature

16. SIMULTANEOUS ACTIONS DIFFERENT ACTIONS TAKING PLACE AT THE SAME TIME,OFTEN THESE ACTIONS ARE JUXTAPOSED TO CREATE CONTRAST