Kinds of Humor
Vocabulary Word:
juxtaposition
Definition:
A technique used by artists and
writers, places normally unassociated
ideas, words, and phrases next to one
another for effect
Vocabulary Word:
persona
Definition:
The voice or character speaking or
narrating a story
Graphic Representation:
Synonyms:
Image
Reputation
Vocabulary Word:
anecdote
Definition:
a short personal account of an
incident or event
Root words:
Comes from the Greek word
anekdotos meaning “unpublished”
The root –dot-combined with the
prefix –ek- means “to give out”
Graphic Representation:
Seinfeld clip….http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MarBVyZVe9s
Two Categories
• High Comedy: sophisticated or
witty comedy, often making fun
of grown-up society
• Low Comedy: a less
sophisticated, silly form of
comedy that relies on physical
jokes, horseplay, and
slapstick humor
LINK HERE
Caricature
• Caricature involves exaggerated portrayal of a
person’s mental, physical, or personality traits
in wisecrack form. Caricatures can be
insulting, complimentary, political or can be
drawn solely for entertainment too. (Think of
the actors on Saturday Night Live who make
fun of people!)
Blunder
• This is a genre of humor, which involves a
character or a comedian making foolish
mistakes, which seem humorous to others.
There is one person who personifies this genre
in humor and he is quite popular for his
blunder-comedy - Rowan Atkinson as Mr.
Bean.
Slapstick
• Slapstick humor is a boisterous form of
comedy with chases, collisions and practical
jokes where people just do silly things such as
tripping, falling over or embarrassing
themselves just to make people laugh.
Comic Situations
Drake & Josh
I Love Lucy
Vocabulary Word:
pun
Definition:
The humorous use of a word or
words to suggest another word with
the same sound or a different
meaning
Synonym:
quick joke
Graphic Representation:
Don’t let Cinderella play baseball. She always runs away from the ball.
I just flew in from Chicago, boy are my arms tired! 
To write with a broken pencil is pointless.
The cost of feathers is rising, now even down is up!
One thing about the speed of light ---it gets here too early.
Vocabulary Word:
one-liner
Definition:
A short joke or witticism, usually
expressed in a single sentence
Synonym:
joke
Graphic Representation:
That was so funny I forgot to laugh
You’ll shoot your eye out kid.
Evening news is where they begin with 'Good evening', and then proceed to
tell you why it isn't.
SpringBoard Page 273
Expository writing
prompt in your SB book
Vocabulary Word:
yarn
Definition: a long, often involved
story, usually telling of incredible or
fantastic events; an entertaining tale
Graphic Representation:
Synonym:
Tall tale
Vocabulary Word:
hyperbole
Definition:
literary technique of extreme
exaggeration for emphasis, often
used for comic effect
Synonym:
I’m so hungry I could eat a horse
Graphic Representation:
Add two of your own examples of hyperbole to the poem
Banter
• To banter is to tease or address in a witty or
teasing manner. What can be funnier than
passing witty remarks and indulging in some
harmless teasing? Banter is a form of comedy
that includes all this and much more!
Parody
• Parody is defined as a work created to mock,
comment on, or poke fun at an original work,
its subject, or author, by means of humorous
or satiric imitation. Parody is nothing but a
composition that imitates or misrepresents
somebody's style, in a humorous way.
Sitcom
• Situational comedy, commonly known as
‘sitcom’ is a popular type of comedy. A
humorous drama based on situations that
might arise in day-to-day life. There exist a
large number of popular TV sitcoms, which are
synonymous with this type of comedy.
BONUS FOOTAGE
• Using your new key terms, analyze the
comedic techniques used by Jim Carrey in the
movie Liar Liar.
BONUS FOOTAGE
• Using your new key terms, analyze the
comedic techniques used in this SNL skit.
BONUS FOOTAGE
• Using your new key terms, analyze the
comedic techniques used in this Ellen clip.