Background and sources of Mark Twain's humor.

In the following study it is my purpose to present the biographical material necessary to a fuller understanding of the background and source of much of the humor that is based upon personal experience or environment of Mark Twain; to show that Mark Twain is the best representative of American humor of the period in which he lived; to trace the development and sources of that humor from its earliest start to its culmination in his fifties; and, finally, to show the full flower of his pessimistic philosophy noticeable in his last two or three decades. Likewise there are shown the causes of the pessimism of his later years and the various incidents in his life and his thought upon which he poured out his grim humor. In the discussion of Mark Twain as America's most representative humorist, I have had in mind the establishment of an understanding of humor and the characteristics which distinguish American from English humor. Charles Dickens, representative of the best in English humor, and Twain, the representative of American humor, obviously had to be used. The last chapter calls attention to examples of a mellower and happier humor which displays itself in the books dealing with his loved Mississippi and his memories thereof. By referring to dates of these works it is seen that the mellowing process was not wholly reserved for his last years.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.A.

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Grantor

Baylor University.

Year dc:date.issued

1937

Author dc:creator

• Gourley, Mary Belle Pool, 1896-

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Courtney, Luther W. (Luther Weeks)

• Twain, Mark, 1835-1910 -- Criticism and interpretation.

Statement dc:rights

• Baylor University works are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. Contact libraryquestions@baylor.edu for inquiries about permission.

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/2104/14206

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:baylor-ir.tdl.org:2104/14206