Burlesque

Burlesque : Burlesque (pronounced ber-lesk) is a style in literature and drama that mocks or imitates a subject by representing it in an ironic or ludicrous way; resulting in comedy. It is a form of the literary genre, satire. The term ―burlesque‖ originates from the Italian burla and later burlesco, meaning ridicule, mockery, or joke

Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
Sugar is sweet,
And so are you!
 

A burlesque version of the poem, specifically a parody, would be :
 

Roses prick your fingers,
Violets make you sneeze,
Sugar fills your veins with fat,
It’s best you stick to peas!
 

First, the poem above mimics the style of the first poem in that it follows the same
ABCB rhyme scheme. Second, it mimics the subject of the first poem by using the
same words—roses, violets, sugar, and you. However, the second poem is funny
because it highlights the negative elements of these things rather than the
positive. Thus, by changing these words to funny alternatives, while keeping the
same style, the second poem mocks the traditional love poem, making it
a burlesque poem.

 

Types of Burlesque :

 

Burlesque  is typically divided into two types:

 

i) high burlesque

ii)low burlesque.
 

With high burlesque, the style of the work is ―high (dignified, serious), but the
subject matter is ―low (insignificant, trivial). In low burlesque, the style of the work is ―low (undignified, improper), but the subject matter is ―high (serious, significant). 

 

Parody :  A parody mimics the style of a particular genre, work, or author. The purpose is to mock a trivial subject by presenting it in an exaggerated and more elegant way than it normally deserves. Parodies are the most popular and widely used form of burlesque.
 

Mock-Heroic : Mock-heroics imitate the form and style of an epic poem (like Homer‘s Odyssey); which is quite formal and complex. Technically, it is a type of parody. Mock-heroics induce humor by presenting insignificant subjects in the long, sophisticated style of epic poetry. 

Travesty : A travesty is a lewd or exaggerated limitation of a significant work or subject,or,an absurd representation of a subject.It's purpose is to ridicule the subject,work or author by mocking it in a vulgar or grotesque way.