The Elements of Humor

(a quick review . . . )

The Elements of Humor

focus on comic characters, situations, and wordplay. Humor often depends on some

combination of these THREE elements.

Although we all laugh at funny people

and events, it can sometimes be difficult

to analyze SPECIFICALLY what makes

something funny. There are, however,

various “elements of humor.” Here are

some of the most important:

1. Comic characters and

caricatures

1. Comic characters and

caricatures:illustrate and focus on specific

features, traits, characteristics, and actions of a person or group of

people and make them humorous.

2. Comic situations

comedy in which the comedic effect depends chiefly upon the involvement

of the main characters in a predicament or ludicrous, complex

circumstances 

--A character “transports”

into a different time

period

--The unexpected happens . . .

3. Comic Language

one-liners . . .

. . . Campers: Nature's way of

feeding mosquitoes.

We live in a society where

pizza gets to your house

before the police.

puns . . .

. . . I'm glad I know sign

language; it's pretty handy.

When William joined

the army he disliked

the phrase ‘fire at

will.’

hyperboles . . .

“She is so dumb, she

thinks Taco Bell is a

Mexican phone

company.”

"A man can have a belly you could house commercial

aircraft in and a grand total of eight greasy strands of

hair, which he grows real long and combs across the top

of his head so that he looks, when viewed from above,

like an egg in the grasp of a giant spider, plus this man

can have B.O. to the point where he interferes with

radio transmissions, and he will still be convinced that,

in terms of attractiveness, he is borderline [Zac Efron]."- Dave Barry, Revenge of the Pork Person