Literary notes about droll (AI summary)
The term "droll" has been employed widely in literature to encapsulate a distinctive, often understated sense of humor and oddity. In many works, it is used to depict characters or situations whose amusing qualities are both subtly ironic and quietly entertaining—as seen in descriptions of personalities with droll expressions or actions ([1], [2], [3]). Authors like Jane Austen, Dickens, and Joyce have applied the word to both people and events, suggesting a blend of eccentricity and wit—whether referring to a "droll little church" ([4]) or a humorous, unexpected occurrence that one might simply describe as "droll" ([5]). Additionally, in narrative accounts and folk tales, "droll" can mark a bridge between the comically absurd and the quaintly curious, underscoring the multifaceted nature of humor throughout literary traditions ([6], [7], [8]).