Irony's antics Walser, Kafka, Roth, and the German comic tradition Weitzman, Erica creator author. text bibliography Criticism, interpretation, etc. ilu 2015 2015 monographic eng print xi, 257 pages ; 24 cm This book marks a major intervention into the underexplored role of the comic in German letters. At the book's heart is the relationship between the comic and irony. Weitzman argues that in the early twentieth century, irony, a key figure for the German Romantics, reemerged from its relegation to "nonsense" ; in a way that both rethought Romantic irony and dramatically extended its reach. Through readings of works by Robert Walser, Franz Kafka, and Joseph Roth, as well as theorists of the comic such as Freud, Schlegel, Hegel, Kierkegaard, and Jean Paul, 'Irony's Antics' traces the development of a specifically comic irony, a play with irony that is itself the condition for all play. It thus constitutes a significant advance in German literary history and shows how the question of the comic has been and continues to be decisive for modern thought. Introduction : the comic ethos -- Senses of humor : the origins of comic irony -- The playgrounds of literature : Robert Walser -- Slap happy : comic Kafka -- Bearing wit to history : Joseph Roth -- Conclusion : last laughs. Erica Weitzman. Includes bibliographical references (pages 229-246) and index. Walser, Robert 1878-1956 Criticism and interpretation Kafka, Franz 1883-1924 Criticism and interpretation Roth, Joseph 1894-1939 Criticism and interpretation German literature 20th century History and criticism Irony in literature Comic, The, in literature Kafka, Franz 1883-1924 Roth, Joseph 1894-1939 Walser, Robert 1878-1956 Comic, The, in literature German literature Irony in literature 1900 - 1999 fast Walser, Robert 1878-1956 Kafka, Franz 1883-1924 Roth, Joseph 1894-1939 Ironie Komik PT405 .W35316 2015 830.9180904 9780810129832 (cloth : alk. paper) 0810129833 (cloth : alk. paper) 2014005099 IEN/DLC 140206 20150701144625.0 in00003535582 eng