The Founders of Albanian Comedy: Language, Irony, and the Horizon of Expectation

Abstract

This study examines the contributions of authors who laid the foundation for Albanian comedy, such as Kristo Floqi, Mihal Grameno, Foqion Postoli, and Ilo Mitkë Qafëzezi, emphasizing their significant role in early 20th-century Albanian literature. It also investigates their linguistic contributions, focusing on the language structures, stylistic choices, and rhetorical strategies employed in their works, and how these elements reflect the socio-political and cultural contexts of their time. By applying literary and linguistic theoretical criteria, the study seeks to establish the place of these authors in the history of Albanian literature and to analyze the reception of their works over time, highlighting their impact on the currents of national literary development. In the field of Albanological studies, these foundational comedic works have been largely overlooked. By addressing this gap, the paper not only contributes to the understanding of Albania’s literary heritage but also sheds light on the linguistic dimensions of these authors’ works, enriching the study of Albanian literature as a multifaceted cultural phenomenon. These writers must be analyzed within the broader historical, artistic, and linguistic frameworks that shaped their roles in the complex process of literary development. Furthermore, this research represents an important step in preserving and re-evaluating our cultural and literary legacy, providing valuable insights into the interplay between language, literature, and cultural history.