Laughter in Literature

Laughter In Literature

Laughing is a reaction to certain external or internal stimuli. Laughter can arise from such activities as being tickled, or from humorous stories or thoughts Most commonly, it is considered a visual expression of a number of positive emotional states, such as joy, mirth, happiness, relief, etc. On some occasions, however, it may be caused by contrary emotional states such as embarrassment, apology, or confusion ("nervous laughter)" or courtesy laugh. Factors such as age, gender, education, language, and culture are determinant factors as to whether a person will experience laughter in a given situation

Laughter is a part of human behavior regulated by the brain, helping humans clarify their intentions in social interaction and providing an emotional context to conversations. Laughter is used as a signal for being part of a group — it signals acceptance and positive interactions with others. Laughter is sometimes seen as contagious, and the laughter of one person can itself provoke laughter from others as a positive feedback. This may account in part for the popularity of laugh tracks in situation comedy television shows.

The study of humor and laughter, and its psychological and physiological effects on the human body, is called gelotology.

Read more about Laughter In Literature:  Nature of Laughter, Laughter and The Brain, Laughter and Health, Causes, Types of Laughter, Negative Aspects, Laughter in Literature

Famous quotes containing the words laughter in, laughter and/or literature:

    The weeping of an heir is laughter in disguise.
    Publilius Syrus (1st century B.C.)

    There are in every generation those who shrink from the ultimate sacrifice, but there are in every generation those who make it with joy and laughter and these are the salt of the generations.
    Patrick Henry Pearse (1879–1916)

    All men are lonely. But sometimes it seems to me that we Americans are the loneliest of all. Our hunger for foreign places and new ways has been with us almost like a national disease. Our literature is stamped with a quality of longing and unrest, and our writers have been great wanderers.
    Carson McCullers (1917–1967)