The sense of humor and the effects of Mediterranean geography in the selected works of Geoffrey Chaucer and Samuel Butler

The aim of this study is to examine the development of humorous works that have taken their place in medieval Western literature within the framework of the literary, cultural, and intellectual exchanges between Eastern and Western traditions, and particularly in the context of the Mediterranean basin's contribution to these exchanges. The research question of this study is formulated as follows: "To what extent have the cultural elements of the Mediterranean basin influenced the humorous elements identified in selected works by the English authors Geoffrey Chaucer (1387–1400) and Samuel Butler (1612–1680)?" To answer this, Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales and Troilus and Criseyde, along with Butler's Hudibras, are analyzed through content analysis. Following the literature review, the selected works were examined using close reading, content analysis, and comparative analysis as methodological approaches. In this study, the humorous elements identified in the works have been analyzed exclusively through the Superiority Theory, one of the traditional theoretical frameworks commonly employed in the interpretation of humor. The findings show that characters often belittle others to appear powerful, important, moral, and valuable. They use humor as a tool or create humorous situations within the narrative. Elements from the Mediterranean, such as place names, historical events, and personal names, are frequently present across all three works, reflecting the influence of the region's cultural and historical legacy both on medieval English literature and on medieval England itself. Thus, it has been concluded that the Mediterranean basin does not constitute a direct subject of humor; rather, through the places, figures, and mythological elements it encompasses, it provides a cultural and conceptual framework that enables the emergence of humorous elements. These results are significant in that they reveal the rich humor of the Middle Ages—often regarded as a generally negative period in terms of its social dimensions—and highlight the pronounced cultural influence of Mediterranean geography on these works. Overall, this study aims to contribute to future research on medieval humor and the cultural influences shaping it.