IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, THE MOST BENEFICIENT, THE MOST MERCIFUL

PRESENTATION ON

JAMES THURBER’S

THE DAY THE DAM BROKE

by IFTIKHAR AHMED

Lecturer Department of English

James Grover Thurber(1894-1961) was an American humourist and cartoonist. Was born in Columbus, Ohio. Thurber was best known for his contributions (both cartoons and short stories) to The New Yorker magazine. Many of his short stories are humourous fictional memoirs from his life. An annual award, the Thurber Prize, begun in 1997, honors outstanding examples of American humor.

Thurber had two brothers, William and Robert. Once, while playing a game, his brother William shot James in the eye with an arrow. Because of the lack of medical technology, Thurber lost his eye. This injury would later cause him to be almost entirely blind. During his childhood he was unable to participate in sports and activities because of his injury, and instead developed a creative imagination, which he shared in his writings

Sydney defines comedy as an imitation of common errors of life, which he represents in the most ridiculous sort that may be so that it is impossible that any beholder can be content to be such a one.

Comedy of HumoursIt presents characters whose actions are ruled by a particular passion, trait, disposition or humour.

Comedy of IdeasIt is a comedy which tends to debate, in a witty and humourous fashion, ideas and theories.

Comedy of IntriguesIt is a form of comedy which depends on an intricate plot full of surprises and tends to subordinate character to plot.

Comedy of MannersThis genre has for its main subjects and themes the behaviour of men and women living under specific social codes.

Comedy of MoralsIt is a satirical comedy designed to ridicule and correct vices like hypocrisy, pride, avarice, social pretensions and nepotism.

Comedy of Menace

It denotes a kind of story in which one or more characters feel that they are (or actually are) threatened by some obscure and frightening force, power, personality etc. The fear and the menace become a source of comedy, grim or black. It shows human beings without convictions and with little hope, regulated by fate or fortune or incomprehensible powers-In fact human beings in an absurd predicament. As its darkest such comedy is pervaded by a kind of sour despair; we can’t do anything so we may as well laugh. The wit is mordant and the humour sardonic.

William Shakespeare

Ben Johnson William Congreve Sheridan Oscar Wilde Bernard Shaw

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An interesting story focusing on the theme of mob psychology, based on a flood rumour and immediate reactions of the people of the city.

It provides ample space to produce such a comedy of menace.

Grandfather’s reactions to the flood rumour which were based upon a misconception; i e.enemy cavalry attack on the town.

Analysis of city engineers Panic and chaos in residents leading them to the

evacuate their houses Panic and confusion on High Street Lt.Colonel’s quick response to the imperative utterance

of a small girl The distances the people ran Restoration of order when the militiamen arrived

announcing through megaphones Theatre episode Wild and confused run of a tall woman and Dr. Mallory The next day

Comedy may be a source of pure fun and entertainment, yet I agree with Sydney that it has a serious function to perform. We watch people indulging in errors and follies, we see them displaying various idiosyncrasies which provide the author with ample material to exploit and ridicule so that it makes us look within and having found them, we get rid of these errors and follies.