American humor in the colonial period blended European, Native American, and African American influences. It served social and political purposes, evolving alongside colonial society and adapting to new literary forms.

Tall tales, hoaxes, and humorous anecdotes played key roles in shaping American identity. Humor helped define a distinctly American voice, highlighting regional diversity while both reinforcing and challenging stereotypes.

The Development of American Humor in the Colonial Period

Origins of colonial American humor

• Early American humor drew from various sources blending European literary traditions (satire, irony), Native American oral storytelling, and African American folktales and trickster stories
• Colonial humor often served social and political purposes satirizing authority figures and institutions, promoting regional and national identity, and helping cope with the hardships and uncertainties of colonial life
• Humor evolved alongside the development of colonial society reflecting changing social, cultural, and political dynamics while adapting to new literary forms and technologies (newspapers, almanacs)

Tall tales in colonial literature

• Tall tales exaggerated the exploits of legendary heroes celebrating the frontier spirit and rugged individualism with examples like Davy Crockett and Paul Bunyan
• Hoaxes and pranks played with the boundaries of truth and fiction exposing gullibility, challenging assumptions, and pulling off famous stunts like "The Great Moon Hoax" by Richard Adams Locke
• Humorous anecdotes and sketches depicted everyday life and characters offering social commentary, moral lessons, and entertaining stories often published in newspapers, magazines, and almanacs

Humor's role in national identity

• Humor helped define a distinctly American voice and sensibility emphasizing wit, wordplay, self-deprecation, and the celebration of democratic values and the common folk
• Regional humor highlighted the diversity of American culture with New England known for dry, intellectual humor focused on religion and politics, the South for its storytelling tradition exploring themes of honor and chivalry, and the West for tall tales and frontier humor emphasizing adventure and individualism
• Humor both reinforced and challenged stereotypes and prejudices by mocking regional and ethnic differences while also possessing the subversive potential to critique social hierarchies and injustices

Washington Irving's humorous contributions

• Washington Irving (1783-1859) is considered the first great American humorist blending European literary traditions with American themes and settings in famous works like "Rip Van Winkle" and "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow"
• Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) pioneered the use of humor in American journalism and politics renowned for his wit, aphorisms, and satirical essays
• Other notable figures include Royall Tyler, author of the first American comedy play "The Contrast," Hugh Henry Brackenridge, a satirist and novelist, and Susanna Rowson, a playwright and novelist

Colonial humor's lasting influence

• Colonial humor established enduring archetypes and themes like the trickster figure (Brer Rabbit), the "Yankee" character (Uncle Sam), and the frontier hero (Davy Crockett)
• Later authors built upon and subverted colonial humor traditions as seen in Mark Twain's use of regional dialects and satire and Dorothy Parker's wit and social commentary
• Colonial humor's influence can be seen in various media including political cartoons and satire ("The Daily Show"), stand-up comedy and sketch comedy ("Saturday Night Live"), and sitcoms and animated series ("The Simpsons")