Abstract
The novels and short stories of Stella Benson (1982-1933) cover a wide range of issues including suffrage, the morality of war and the rights of women through a mixture of realism, fantasy and satire. Drawing on a range of twentieth and twenty first century theoretical approaches relating to humour and satire this essay considers Benson’s use of humour and satire in her collection of short stories Hope Against Hope and Other Stories (1931) and Tobit Transplanted (1931). Throughout both texts, Benson explores human frailties, inviting the reader to view her characters with an ironic detachment. This essay argues that this use of comedy highlights the tension between humour and subject matter, and provides an insight into both her life and 1930s society.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Interwar Women's Comic Fiction |
| Subtitle of host publication | 'Have Women a Sense of Humour?' |
| Editors | Nicola Darwood, Nick Turner |
| Place of Publication | Newcastle upon Tyne |
| Publisher | Cambridge Scholars Publishing |
| ISBN (Print) | 9781527542747 |
| Publication status | Published - 29 Jan 2020 |
Keywords
- Arts, Literature and Society
- women
- Literature
- Twentieth century
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