Drollery

Drollery (n.) refers to something amusing or comical, particularly in a whimsical or playfully eccentric way. It often involves wit, lighthearted satire, and a tendency towards the absurd. The humor derived from drollery typically avoids harshness and instead relies on a subtle, often understated, approach, creating a gentle amusement rather than belly laughs. It can be found in various forms, including literature, art, performance, and everyday interactions. drollery often utilizes unexpected turns of phrase, visual puns, or incongruous situations to elicit a smile or a chuckle. The effect can be more about recognizing the cleverness or irony of the situation rather than outright hilarity, it's all about playful, lighthearted, and somewhat understated amusement.

Drollery meaning with examples

• The author's novel was filled with delightful drollery, from the talking dog to the absurdly complicated rules of the fictional society. Readers found themselves constantly chuckling at the witty observations and whimsical plot twists. This type of comedic writing relies on subtly to maintain the humour without being overly aggressive, so the drollery enhances the experience.
• The comedian's performance was a masterclass in drollery, with his deadpan delivery and unexpected punchlines. He managed to find humor in the most mundane aspects of life, leaving the audience in stitches. He kept it simple, and relied on his experience to provide a drollery filled show that everyone enjoyed.
• The artist's paintings were characterized by a unique drollery, featuring surreal landscapes populated by quirky characters. The juxtaposition of the familiar and the bizarre created a sense of playful wonder. This use of the bizarre adds a unique dimension to the drollery, and creates the desired effect the artist intended to elicit.
• During the family gathering, the grandfather’s tales of his youth were full of drollery. Everyone looked forward to the amusing stories, recounted with a twinkle in his eye and a subtle underplay that held the audience in raptures. His drollery was part of the family heritage, enjoyed by all.