Any person who does not have a well developed sense of humor will hardly
see the force of the reference to Thurtell, the murderer. It is a
whimsical way of indicating by a specific example how empty the writer's
brain was, forcing him to reflect on such a subject in so trivial a manner.
Observe the occasional summing up of the meaning, curiously repeating
exactly the same thing---"Did you ever have a very bad cold---?"
"Did you ever have an obstinate cold---?" The very short sentences
summarize the very long ones. The repetition is meant to give the
impression of being clumsy and stupid. In describing harshness we use
words that are harsh, in describing awkwardness we use words that are
awkward, in describing brightness and lightness we use words that are
bright and light, in the very words themselves giving a concrete
illustration of what we mean.
CHAPTER V.
RIDICULE:
Poe.
I have said that humor is good-natured and winning. This is always
true, though the winning of one reader may be at the expense of some
other. Humor used to win one at the expense of another is called
_satire_ and _sarcasm_.
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