The Study of the “Humorous Seriousness” Figure of Speech and the Effect of Its Understanding on the Interpretation of Quran

Rhetoric seeks to unveil the secrets behind the beauty and eloquence of speech. The literary device of “Humorous Seriousness” is among the figures of speech overlooked by some rhetoricians in their research and researchers have not taken adequate effort to introduce this device. In this descriptive-analytical research, first the attempts made by the literary scholars in the field of rhetoric were re-examined and then the mechanism of this figure of speech was analyzed with regard to the achievements of some of the contemporary literary scholars and linguists. The results from this analysis and the re-examination of the verses of the Noble Quran revealed that an interpreter familiar with this rhetoric figure does not solely rely on the apparent meaning of the verses and seeks to grasp the real message hidden in the words. Unveiling the motivation for the selection of alternative words, revealing the affective role of the Simile, and presenting a coherent interpretation are the outcomes of understanding the function of this literary device in the manifestations of this rhetoric figure. At the end of this manuscript, an explanation is provided as to how to understand the satirical and facetious tone of a text and understand and interpret the verses of the Noble Quran with regard to this tone.