They often use irony. For instance, they might describe a tragic situation in a way that makes it seem comical on the surface. This can be seen in works where a character is facing a great misfortune but the way it's written, like with sarcastic remarks from the character or a strange turn of events, gives it a humorous edge.
Another characteristic is their use of satire. They poke fun at various aspects of American culture, society, or politics. A writer might create a character who is a caricature of a power - hungry politician and through the character's over - the - top actions and dialogue, use humor to criticize the real - life political scene.
Chuck Palahniuk is also a famous American writer of darkly humorous novels. For example, in 'Fight Club', he uses dark humor to explore themes of consumerism, masculinity, and identity. The narrator's internal struggle and the extreme actions of the fight club members are described with a touch of black humor that makes the story both disturbing and fascinating.
They often use irony. For example, they might make a tragic situation seem funny by highlighting the absurdity within it. Like in Kurt Vonnegut's works, the horror of war is shown with a kind of gallows humor.
Creative use of language. They play with words and phrases to create a sense of unease and amusement simultaneously. In Chuck Palahniuk's 'Fight Club', the dialogue and descriptions are crafted in a way that makes you laugh at the same time as you're horrified by the actions and ideas. They also tend to break narrative conventions, which adds to their distinctiveness.
One such writer is Kurt Vonnegut. His works like 'Slaughterhouse - Five' are filled with dark humor. The story jumps around in time, showing the absurdity of war and human existence in a unique way, often with a wry and sardonic tone.
A key characteristic of good darkly comedic novels is their ability to make the reader uncomfortable while also making them laugh. This is achieved through things like unexpected plot twists that are both dark and funny. In 'The Confederacy of Dunces', Ignatius' actions are so outlandish that it's both hilarious and a bit disturbing. Another aspect is the use of satire. They use humor to mock and criticize things like in 'The Sellout' which satirizes race relations. And the characters usually have a certain self - awareness that adds to the comedic and dark elements, as they are often aware of their own flaws and the absurdity of their situations.
Don DeLillo also writes darkly humorous novels. In works like 'White Noise', he uses humor to dissect modern American life, including our relationship with technology, consumer culture, and the fear of death. His writing style is often characterized by a dry, understated humor that makes his social critiques both sharp and engaging.
Humorous, witty dialogue and exaggerated plot to attract the reader's attention, but also to take into account the reader's mood and atmosphere so that the whole work can resonate and laugh. It was humorous so that readers could understand and accept it more easily. They could also express their attitudes and values through the characters in the story, so that the readers could resonate with the characters in the novel.
The 19th - century horror novels in 'In a Glass Darkly' typically feature a sense of impending doom. The language used creates a feeling that something bad is about to happen at any moment. For instance, descriptions of dark and stormy nights or old, dilapidated buildings add to this sense.
USA novels can be very diverse in terms of style and theme. Some, like 'Moby - Dick', have a very epic and adventurous style, while others such as 'The Catcher in the Rye' are more focused on the internal struggles of the individual. American novels also tend to reflect different historical periods, like 'Gone with the Wind' which is set during the Civil War.
Humorous novels often have quirky characters. Think of the characters in 'The Wizard of Oz' like the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion. Their personalities and the way they interact with each other are sources of humor.