All definitions are from A Handbook to Literature, fourth edition, C. Hugh Holman, Bobbs-Merrill Educational Publishing, 1980.

Black Humor – the use of the morbid and the absurd for darkly comic purposes. The term refers as much to the tone of anger and bitterness as it does to the grotesque and morbid situations, which often deal with suffering, anxiety and death

Burlesque – a form of comedy characterized by ridiculous exaggeration.This distortion is secured in a variety of ways: the sublime may be made absurd; honest emotions may be turned to sentimentality; a serious subject may be treated frivolously or a frivolous subject seriously. Burlesque is found in architecture, painting, sculpture as well as literature.

Commedia Dell'arte – a form of Italian low comedy dealing from very early times in which the actors, who usually performed conventional parts, improvised their dialogue

Double entendre – a statement that is deliberately ambiguous, one of whose possible meanings is risqué or suggestive of some impropriety

Litotes – a form of understatement in which a thing is affirmed by stating the negative of its opposite: "He was not unmindful" when one means "He gave careful attention."

Irony – a broad term referring to the recognition of a reality different from the masking appearance. Irony is likely to be confused with sarcasm, but it differs from sarcasm in that it is usually lighter, less harsh in its wording though in effect probably more cutting because of its indirectness. The ability to recognize irony is one of the surest tests of intelligence and sophistication. Its presence is marked by a sort of grim humor and "unemotional detachment" on the part of the writer, a coolness in expression at a time when the writer's emotions appear to be heated.

Meiosis – intentional understatement for humorous or satiric effect and occasionally for emphasis

Parody – a composition burlesquing or imitating another, usually serious, piece of work. It is designed to ridicule in nonsensical fashion, or to criticize by brilliant treatment, an original piece of work or its author

Pun – a play on words based on the similarity of sound between two words with different meanings

Sarcasm – a form of verbal irony in which, under the guise of praise, a caustic and bitter expression of strong and personal disapproval is given. Sarcasm is personal, jeering, intended to hurt and is intended as a sneering taunt.

Satire – a literary manner which blends a critical attitude with humor and wit for the purpose of improving human institutions or humanity. True satirists are conscious of the frailty of institutions of human devising and attempt through laughter not so much to tear down as to inspire a remodeling. If critics simply abuse, they are writing invective; if they are personal and splenetic, they are writing sarcasm; if they are sad and morose over the state of society they are writing irony or a jeremiad.

Slapstick – low comedy involving physical action, practical jokes, and such actions as pie-throwing and pratfalls. The name is taken from a paddle consisting of two flat pieces of wood so attached to a handle that it makes a loud sound when a painless blow is struck with it.

Vignette – a sketch or essay or brief narrative characterized by great precision and delicate accuracy of composition. The term is borrowed from that used for unbordered but delicate decorative designs for a book, and it implies writing with comparable grace and economy.

Wit – the apt association of thought and expression, calculated to surprise and delight by its unexpectedness. "Wit is intensive or incisive, while humor is expansive. Wit is rapid, humor is slow. Wit is sharp, humor is gentle. . .." (Carolyn Wells)