Lesson 29 Funny or not

What is the basis of 'sick' humor?

Whether we find a joke funny or not largely depends on where we have been brought up.

The sense of humorismysteriously bound up withnational characteristics.

A Frenchman, for instance, might find it hard to laugh at a Russian joke.

In the same way, a Russian might fail to see anything amusing in a joke which would make an Englishman laugh to tears.

Most funny stories are based on comic situations.

In spite of national differences, certain funny situations have auniversal appeal.

No matter where you live, you would find it difficult not to laugh at, say, Charlie Chaplin's early films.

However, a new type of humor, whichstems largely from the U.S., has recently come into fashion.

It is called 'sick humor'. Comedians base their jokes on tragic situations like violent death or serious accidents. Many people find this sort of joke distasteful.

The following example of 'sick humor' will enable you to judge for yourself.

A man who had broken his right leg was taken to hospital a few weeks before Christmas.

From the moment he arrived there, he kept onpestering his doctor to tell him when he would be able to go home. Hedreaded having to spend Christmas in hospital.

Though the doctors did his best, the patient's recovery was slow.

On Christmas Day, the man still had his right leg inplaster.

He spent a miserableday in bed thinking of all the fun he was missing.

The following day, however, the doctorconsoled him by telling him that his chances of being able to leave hospital in time for New Year celebrations were good.

The man took heart and, sure enough, on New Years' Eve he was able to hobble along to a party.

To compensate for his unpleasant experiences in hospital, the man drank a little more than was good for him.

In the process, he enjoyed himself thoroughlyand kept telling everybody how much he hated hospitals.

He was still mumbling something about hospitals at the end of the party when he slipped on a piece of ice and broke his left leg.

 

 

1.      The sense of humor幽默感

Our teacher has a wonderful sense of humor. I failed to see the humor in the situation.

2.      be bound up with : be closely connected to

His character is very much bound up with his childhood experience.

3.      be based on , sth. base on sth.

His novel is based on his own experience. She often based her judgment on her fist impression.

4.      universal   

universallanguage            universal rule

universal problem世界性的问题  

universal successor全财产继承人

universal time 格林尼治时间

5.      appeal:attraction 

    His songs usually have a wide appeal.

    The ideanever have appealed to me very much  Lesson23 one man’s meat is another man’s poison

6.      stem from :come from  Their argument stemmed from a misunderstanding.

7.      come into fashionwhen did mini-skirt come into fashion?

8.      distasteful

9.      judge-武端地下结论；法官

Take a moment before you judge a person. judge for yourself你自己来判断

We’ll need you to testify before a judge.我们需要你在法官面前作证

Don't judge a man by his opinions, but by what his opinions have made him.

10.  pester:assail

I was assailed by a man who wanted to sell me a diamond ring.

There were beggars pestering the tourists for money.

My son always pesters me to buy him sweets.

pester power死缠烂打的威力；儿童消费力（小孩缠着父母直到他们答应购买某物为止）

11.  dread: fear   dread doing   dread + that引导的从句

He dreaded that his parents would find out what has actually doing.

12.  console: comfort

I tried to console her with a box of chocolates.

I was consoling her on breaking up with her boyfriend.

Console yourself – it could be worse.你就自我安慰吧，情况可能更糟。

13.  chanceHer chances of survival are good/faint/slight.

There’s a good chance/ some chance/ little chance / no chance that I can finish this paper on time.

14.  take heart振作精神 lose heart灰心

Take heart- tomorrow is another day.   Don’t lose heart- you are doing it very well.

15.  compensate: make up

I’m sorry about last night and I really want to make it up to you.

I feel so bad. Is there anything I can do to make up to you.

16.  thoroughly: 1) completely 2) carefully

I found his performance thoroughly satisfactory. (completely)

I had cleaned my room thoroughly before you come. (carefully)

17.  slip  [slip] sleep  [sli:p]

18.  find+ n. + adj. ( to do )

1)     Whether wefind a joke funny or not largely depends on where we have been brought up.

2)     Many peoplefind this sort of joke distasteful.

3)     A Frenchman, for instance, mightfind it hard to laugh at Russian joke.(用it代替后面的不定式)

4)     … you mightfind it difficult not to laugh at.(用it代替后面的不定式)

19.  英文中用于表示感受如何的词：find,consider ,think ,suppose, feel

Do you think /consider the example of ‘sick humor’ ( to be) funny or distasteful ?