Comedy Terms (2nd Hour)

Pun

Pun

a joke based around wordplay, or the misuse of a word or words that sound similar to the intended word

Double Entendre

a phrase and/or words that could have 2 or more different meanings

Malapropism

when someone unintentionally misuses a word for another word, resulting in a humorous manner

Spoonerism

when someone makes a verbal error in a sentence, where they switch the initial sounds of two words in a phrase.

Satire

making fun of social issues with the goal of making things change or calling attention to the problem. Often about politics.

Satirical Comedy

comedy based off human immorality, wickedness, and lack of good ethics

Bathos

(unintentionally) adding an anticlimactic ending rather than extravagant

Caricature

an imitation in which the characteristics of the person are exaggerated

Strange Setting/Awkward Situation

putting yourself or someone else in an embarrassingly comedic position, also known as cringe comedy

Hyperbole

a statement greatly exaggerated and should not be taken literally

Understatement

a sentence that makes something seem less important, serious, or worse than it actually is

Incongruity

comedic effect due to something not matching to your expectations, logic, or familiarity

Farce

a dramatic work that is fantastic, absurd, improbable, and really ridiculous--has buffoonery and horseplay

Deadpan

jokes that seem entirely serious

Breaking the 4th wall

characters acknowledge that they are in a work or that there is an audience

Ironic Juxtaposition

contrasting two different objects for comedic effect

Anachronism

contrasting two objects from different time periods in proximity

Miscommunication/Misunderstanding

two characters mistaking each other’s ideas that is amusing

Absurdity

trait of something ridiculous, stupid, or (commonly seen) as nonsense

Slapstick

humor involving exaggerated physical violence

Internal Logic

a system of logical rules

Absurd Logical progressions

ridiculous progressions of ideas

Situational Humor

comedy that uses awkward, silly, lighthearted, and sometimes inescapable situations

Punchline

final word or sentence that makes the point of the joke

Dark Comedy

comedy that involves tragedy, gloomy/morbid satire, or problems of society/people

Romantic Comedy

a lighthearted, humorous work about the development of a sympathetic, well-matched lovers and has a happy ending

One-liner

a joke said in a single sentence