This document discusses two types of 18th century comedy: sentimental comedy and anti-sentimental comedy. Sentimental comedy aimed to evoke emotions like pity and sorrow in middle-class audiences and was closer to tragedy. Anti-sentimental comedy, created by writers like Oliver Goldsmith and Richard Brinsley Sheridan in response, dealt with upper-class society and evoked laughter through vulgarity. Examples given are Richard Steele's "The Conscious Lover" for sentimental comedy and Richard Sheridan's "The Rivals" for anti-sentimental comedy. The document also defines literary devices commonly used in these comedies like wit, laughter, farce, irony, and disguise.

1. Paper 2- The Neo-classical Literature
Prepared by – Vaidehi Hariyani

2.  In general sense, what makes us laugh is
comedy.
 It is an art of performing or making jokes,
satire and humour.
 Example – comic plays, movies, TV shows,
books etc.

3.  It is an 18th century dramatic genre.
 It evokes emotions like pity, sorrow and
sympathy.
 This comedy is nearer to tragedy.
 The purpose of the writers was to produce
tears rather than laughter.
 It was popular among middle class audience.

4.  The opposite of sentimental comedy.
 When sentimental comedy did not last long,
“Oliver Goldsmith” and “Richard Brinsley
Sheridan” created anti-sentimental comedy.
 Deals with the relations and women living in a
upper class society.
 Evokes laughter and vulgarity.

5. Sentimental comedy Anti-sentimental comedy
 Evokes pity and
sorrow.
 Middle class
 Nearer to tragedy.
 Example – Richard
Steele's “The conscious
lover”.
 Evokes laughter and
vulgarity.
 Upper class
 Nearer to comedy.
 Example – Richard
Sheridan’s “The Rivals”.

6.  Wit
 Laughter
 Farce
 Irony
 Disguise

7.  Wit is a form of intelligent humour,the ability
to say or write things that are clever and
usually funny.

9.  Laughter is the best medicine.

10.  Farce is a comedy that aims at entertaining
the audience through situations that are
highly exaggerated.

11.  The use of words to convey a meaning that is
the opposite of its literal meaning.

13.  To modify the manner or appearance of a
person through wig, glasses, makeup,
costume or other ways.