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buffoon

Archaic Terms
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A person whose silly behaviour provides comic relief; in poetry, he serves as a foil to seriousness, a figure of ridicule, or a reminder of the foolishness in human nature.

Detailed Definition
Buffoons appear in poetry as figures of excess, humiliation, or comic truth-telling. Poets used them to critique power, expose vanity, or provide contrast to seriousness. Their exaggerated behaviour allows poets to explore the role of laughter, performance, and folly within social and moral frameworks.
Example
Example in poetry:
The buffoon capers near the throne, speaking truth disguised as jest; In painted verse the buffoon laughs so kings may hear themselves; Poets grant the buffoon licence to wound with humour’s blade; The buffoon’s folly masks a wisdom too sharp for sober speech
Additional Notes
Buffoon carries theatrical associations, often allowing foolish figures to speak truths others cannot. In poetry, buffoons may appear comic but also function as social critics, exposing hypocrisy through exaggeration. The term differs from clown in emphasising deliberate performance rather than rustic simplicity. Poets exploit this ambiguity to balance humour and insight, especially in satirical or courtly verse.
Also Known As
Fool Jester Clown jack-pudding
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