Don Quixote...funny?

[Wilfred]

I thought Don Quixote was one of the funniest books that I have ever read, however, when discussing it with other people, they all said that they thought that it was exceedingly dry and dull. I have concluded that they did not have the elevated level of humor and intellegence that I have and did not comprehend the many humorous elements of the book.

[crisaor]

Originally posted by Wilfred
I have concluded that they did not have the elevated level of humor and intellegence that I have and did not comprehend the many humorous elements of the book.
Good conclusion :p .

I do agree that it's very funny.

[IWilKikU]

me too. I always thought that it was a comedy with some universal truths thrown in to make it appeal to the excedingly dry and dull people.

[David J]

It could depend on the translation you read. The 19th cent. Romantics tended to take the book seriously and so I guess a translation from this period would reflect this. But the version I read was very funny

[Adso]

Originally posted by Wilfred
I thought Don Quixote was one of the funniest books that I have ever read, however, when discussing it with other people, they all said that they thought that it was exceedingly dry and dull. I have concluded that they did not have the elevated level of humor and intellegence that I have and did not comprehend the many humorous elements of the book.

Funny? Come on! You know, somebody said that behind every comedy lies a tragedy (or something like that... :D ).
Anyway i don't think this is a funny book. It has it's comic moments but it's not a comedy. I mean, it marks the end of chivalry, the end of an age and with it the death of concepts like honour. I don't find that to be particularly funny... :rolleyes:

[LuggageFan]

What is the best English translation of Quixote? Opinions sought. Thanks.

[mal4mac]

What's an elevated level of humor? Do you need it to appreciate 'Sancho tossed in a blanket' or 'tilting at windmills'? If so, I have it! I don't have an elevated level of intelligence, but greatly enjoyed Edith Grossmann's translation. I'd previously tried 'some Penguin' and, probably due to my lowered intelligence, I had to give up...

[JBI]

I thought Don Quixote was one of the funniest books that I have ever read, however, when discussing it with other people, they all said that they thought that it was exceedingly dry and dull. I have concluded that they did not have the elevated level of humor and intellegence that I have and did not comprehend the many humorous elements of the book.

Coming from someone who read it cover to cover in one sitting, that is just conceited. They just didn't think it funny. The bulk of the jokes are rather crass, for instance, vomit humor, physical abuse humor, and sexual jokes - the lowest forms of comedy for your "elevated level of humor." In truth, it is as base as Rabelais in many ways, and its comedy in many chapters comes from the vulgar.

That being said, I thought it was funny, but I also thought Metamorphosis was funny.

Stop being judgmental. Be content that you enjoyed the book, and criticize people for saying others are better, not this one wasn't enjoyable. The text's reputation is not exactly in question.

[Delarge]

I am one of those who found it extremely dry and dull.
I did get what was supposed to be the "funny parts", but I just didn't find them very funny.
To me it seemed like something that might have been funny 400 years ago before Comedy Central aired.
It was like reading the Danish playwright Holmberg. Celebrated by his time, now immensely boring.

Just to be fair. I totally loved the part where Sancho was persuaded to whip himself. That was hilarious.

[lit.girl]

Is this book really exciting and funny?
I really encouraged to read it. In my country few of people don't like reading books as much as i do.
Can you tell me people "Don Quxiot" is intersting book to read?
I really want to read books like this type of books.

[Darcy88]

Funniest thing I've ever read. And I don't think you have to be that sophisticated to find the material funny. When he charges the sheep and the shepherds pelt him with stones causing him to suffer a broken jaw, my god, I literally fell over. I've only read part one, I don't know how funny the second part is. Its more tragic from what I've heard.

[dfloyd]

If someone doesn't like it or finds it boring I wouldn't criticise them, but they are probably not the type of person I would want to know. With a horse named Rosinante, a maiden called Dulcinea, a squire like Sancho Panza, and a golden helmet which formally was a barber's basin, how can this book not be extremely humorous. The knight of the doleful countenance will go on being one of the funniest characters yet devised by an author, regardless of those who cast aspersion.

[Mudkip]

It's slapstick. If you like the Three Stooges or Loony Toons, you'll probably like Don Quixote. Disliking Don Quixote has nothing to do with intelligence.

[stlukesguild]

There is indeed a wealth of slapstick in Don Quixote... but it is far more than that. There is a profound irony... the greatest perhaps to be found in the manner in which the bumbling characters of the Don and Sancho eventually grow upon each other and upon the reader... developing the most deep-felt friendship... and eventually... for all their failings... evolving into the most heroic of characters beyond that of their great predecessors of the heroic romances who never knew failure. To paraphrase Rostand's Cyrano de Bergerac, when you fight with windmills they may swing round their huge arms and cast you down into the mire... or up among the stars. The irony is that Cervantes is able to do both at once.

[Desolation]

I thought that it was hilarious...but enough about Don Quixote, let's hear more about how great you are.

I actually didn't finish the book myself, so I'm probably lacking in your grandiose sophistication.

[stlukesguild]

I actually didn't finish the book myself, so I'm probably lacking in your grandiose sophistication.

Its possible... but as a consolation you are clearly far more of a humble individual than the OP... not unlike myself.:rolleyes5::p

[serhanbener]

Yes first book is very funny but second book is a little bit sad.

[tscherff]

the first book reminds me of laurel and hardy. there is a sense of sophistication and nobility to their bungling.
i agree with serhanbener, the second book was rather sad.
in book 1 you laugh with them, in the second you laugh at them

[LuggageFan]

But does anyone have an opinion as to which English translation is best???

There are about 20 out there, and even a superficial side-by-side reading of any two shows you that each translation of identical text carries its own unique flavor.

[Manchegan]

Here's a funny thing that is highly relevant to this convo, although the fact that i'm posting it here might give away the punchline...

http://xkcd.com/556/