On Mark Twain's How to Tell a Story

Yuen M. Ho
English 48B
January 31, 2007
Journal #18 Mark Twain

I. Quote

“The humorous story is strictly a work of art—high and delicate art—and only an artist can tell it; but no art is necessary in telling the comic and the witty story; anybody can do it. The art of telling a humorous story—understand, I mean by word of month, not print—was created in America, and has remained at home.”

II. Summary

Mark Twain tried to make a distinction between humorous stories, comic and witty stories in “How to Tell a Story.” In this particular quote, he referred humorous story as a form of art that can only be mastered by artist—not everyone can do it. But since the effect of both comic and witty stories depends on the content, not the way they are told, any average person is able to tell them with the same result.

Other than regarding humorous story as an art form, he also regarded it as a pure product of America. He mentioned in his article that no other country has shown their ability to master this art form, France and Britain not withstanding.

The third important point Twain has made is that a humorous story should be passed on orally, but not in written form like any other kind of story. That is why when Twain tried to present a humorous story in written form, he often adopted colloquial kind of writing to imitate the oral effect.

III. Response

While I have never been able to tell the difference between humorous, witty and comic, I agree with Twain on the distinction he is trying to make. I can easily relate these two kinds of stories and their tellers with people I have encountered; thus, I can also comprehend the points Twain tried to make.

Twain is really a brilliant writer. Even in written words, he is able to “tell” two kinds of stories and “show” their obvious differences. His language is vivid. There is no denying that he is the artist among the artists of humor stories.