In The Importance of Being Earnest, Wilde often uses "high" comedy, particularly puns, epigrams, irony and inversion. Wilde was known particularly for his use of epigrams, which are often paradoxical, memorable phrases. There are many of these throughout Act 1 such as, "Divorces are made in Heaven," and, "The truth is rarely pure and never simple." In my opinion, these witty phrases and plays on words are what makes the play humorous and enjoyable to read.
Wilde also often uses irony. One example of this is the scene in which Algernon is eating the cucumber sandwiches. When Jack requests one as well, Algernon refuses, claiming they were made especially for his Aunt Augusta, but continues to eat them himself. Another example is a quote from Algernon where he claims that Earnest (Jack) is the "most earnest-looking person I ever saw in my life." Here, it is ironic that he is calling Jack earnest, or sincere, when he is clearly lying about his name.
One of my favorite shows to watch is New Girl. It is a sitcom that follows Jess, a young woman who moves into an apartment with three other rommates, all of which are guys. Overall, the show involves mostly farce, with many ridiculous and improbable scenes and plot lines related to the characters' romantic relationhips, careers, and day to day lives. My favorite character on the show is Schmidt, who is one of the four roommates. He has a number of funny and quirky sayings and habits that add humor to the show. Here is a clip of some of his best quotes and moments from season one.
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