Comedic device

A comedic device is used in comedy to write humor in a common structure. They can become so common that they are difficult for writers to use without being perceived as cheesy.

List of comedic devices

Double entendre

Main article: Double entendre

A double entendre is a spoken phrase can be understood in either of two ways. The first, literal meaning is an innocent one, while the second meaning is often ironic or risqué and requires the hearer to have some additional knowledge.

Hyperbole

Main article: Hyperbole

A hyperbole is a figure of speech in which statements are exaggerated or extravagant. It may be used due to strong feelings or is used to create a strong impression and is not meant to be taken literally.

Mistaken identity

The mistaken identity of twins is a centuries old comedic device used by Shakespeare in several of his works. The mistake can be either an intended act of deception or an accident. Modern examples include The Parent Trap, The Truth About Cats and Dogs', Sister, Sister, and the films of Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen.

Monocle

It is a popular perception that the monocle can easily fall off with the wrong facial expression. As a comedic device, an upper-class gentleman drops his monocle when he makes a shocked expression. The monocle falls into the gentleman's drink, smashes into pieces on the floor, etc.

Prank call

Main article: Prank call

A prank call is a form of practical joke committed over the telephone. Prank calls range from annoying hang-ups to false calls to emergency services or bomb threats.

Pun

Main article: Pun

A pun consists of a deliberate confusion of similar words or phrases for humorous effect, whether humorous or serious. A pun can rely on the assumed equivalency of multiple similar words (homonymy), of different shades of meaning of one word (polysemy), or of a literal meaning with a metaphor. Bad puns are often considered to be cheesy. They should be punny. Haha.

Overstatement and Understatement

Overstatement and understatement can be used to emphasize a belief, for example, a low vote in a referendum: "How many people voted for this?" "about naught".

Juxtaposition

Juxtaposition is about turning a common misconception about something on its head. For example "My wife.. it's the same every night. 'when are you going to paint the kitchen?' 'when are you going to paint the kitchen?' every bloody night. 'when are you going to paint the kitchen?'. I've told her about 10 times now, and she still hasn't done it". In this case, until the punch-line, it is assumed that the woman is giving the orders to the man. There is also an element of profanity in the joke, since it employs sexism.

Surrealism

The device usually employs the use of non-sequiturs. A basic example is "what's two plus two? fish." the surreal life.

Taboo

There is a liberating element to saying something that nobody else would say in a civilised environment. Being disgusting or politically wrong in front of an audience can surprise and shock an audience. e.g. jokes about paedophiles.

Funny Numbers

A more specific extension to understatement and overstatement, the choice of number when emphasising a quantity can be made funny by use of rarely used numbers. "four" is funnier than "seven" in understatement. This is because "four" is a less commonly thought of number, and can surprise an audience.

Repetition

The lowest forms of humour are repetition, toilet humour, sarcasm, and repetition. Repetition is the basis for "Englishman, Irishman, and Scotsman" jokes, where repetition is used to set up a modus operandi before the Irishman (usually assumed to be the stupid one) provides the juxtaposition.

Slapstick

Main article: Slapstick

Slapstick is a type of comedy involving exaggerated physical violence. Slapstick was heavily used by Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin, Laurel and Hardy, the Keystone Kops, the Three Stooges. Slapstick is also common in animated cartoons such as Tom and Jerry and Looney Tunes.

See also

• Joke
• Practical joke device
• Switcheroo

External links

• Classroom connections – describes mistaken twins as a comedic device
• Comic Devices and Conventions – analysis of comedic devices used in The Swaggering Soldier