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Literature vocabulary · Genres and Forms

Burlesque

Meaning in literature, with examples

nounAdvanced term

In literature, burlesque means: A literary or theatrical form that creates humor by treating a serious subject absurdly, or a trivial subject in a grand style.

In Turkish: burlesk

How it is used

In literary study, it describes parody-like exaggeration of style or subject. Meaning depends on the mismatch between tone and material.

Example sentences

  1. The lecturer called the mock epic a burlesque because heroic language was applied to a quarrel over office tea.

    Here burlesque means comic incongruity: elevated style makes an ordinary dispute seem absurdly important for humorous effect.

  2. In the archive notes, the play was described as a political burlesque that turned official speeches into noisy stage comedy.

    In this example, burlesque labels a work that mocks public seriousness by exaggerating it into theatrical farce.

Common collocations

  • political burlesque
  • burlesque style
  • comic burlesque
  • literary burlesque
  • genreA category of literature defined by shared features of form, style or subject, such as poetry, drama and the novel, or crime, fantasy and romance.
  • comedyA play or story meant to amuse, usually built on misunderstandings and humor and ending happily, often with reunions or marriages.

More terms: Genres and Forms

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