A Brief Review of the Development of Humor (From Pre-Islamic Era to the Time of Abbasid)

Humor has been has been the subject of Arabic literature in different forms from the pre-Islamic era and its evolution is in close parallel to political and social changes of the society. In Arabic literature many books were produced under the category of comedy signifying the existence of this literary style among Arabs. The historical development of this genre and its characteristics in different periods being the subject of this article led the researchers to delve into diverse subjects and themes of humor along with its evolution in various periods. To carry out this research literary and historical sources together with some of the works of contemporary comedy writers were taken into account. Finally it is proved that humor has always existed in Arabic literature and reached its peak during the Abbasid period yet it was expressed differently dependant on the social condition of society.