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. Comedy is the use of humor in the form of theater, where it simply referred to a play with a happy ending, in contrast to a tragedy. ... The term camp—normally used as an adjective, even though earliest recorded uses employed it mainly as a verb—refers to the deliberate and sophisticated use of kitsch, mawkish or corny themes and styles in art, clothing or conversation. ...

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 h]]ave some additional knowledge. A double entendre is a figure of speech similar to the pun, in which a spoken phrase can be understood in either of two ways. ... A phrase is a group of words that functions as a single unit in the syntax of a sentence. ... Irony is best known as a figure of speech (more precisely called verbal irony) in which there is a gap or incongruity between what a speaker or a writer says, and what is understood. ...

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. A hyperbole, largely synonymous with exaggeration and overstatement, is a figure of speech in which statements are exaggerated or extravagant. ...

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 Trouble with Cats and Dogs, Sister, Sister and Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. The Parent Trap is the title of a movie by Walt Disney Productions Corporation which was made twice, first in 1961 and a remake made in 1998. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Ashley Fuller Olsen (left) and Mary-Kate Olsen (right). ...

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. Joseph Chamberlain wearing a monocle A monocle is a type of corrective lens used to correct the vision in only one eye. ...

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. A prank call, also known as a crank call or hoax call, is a form of practical joke committed over the telephone. ...

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. A pun (also known as paronomasia) is a figure of speech which consists of a deliberate confusion of similar words or phrases for rhetorical effect, whether humorous or serious. ... A word is a unit of language that carries meaning and consists of one or more morphemes which are linked more or less tightly together. ... A phrase is a group of words that functions as a single unit in the syntax of a sentence. ... A homonym is one of a group of two or more words that have the same phonetic form (i. ... Polysemy (from the Greek πολυσημεία = multiple meaning) is the state of being a polyseme; i. ... In language, a metaphor (from the Greek: metapherin) is a rhetorical trope defined as a direct comparison between two seemingly unrelated subjects. ... The term camp—normally used as an adjective, even though earliest recorded uses employed it mainly as a verb—refers to the deliberate and sophisticated use of kitsch, mawkish or corny themes and styles in art, clothing or conversation. ...

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. Slapstick is a type of comedy involving exaggerated physical violence. ... Joseph Frank Keaton Jr. ... Charlie Chaplin and Virginia Cherrill in City Lights (1931) Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin, Jr, KBE, (April 16, 1889 – December 25, 1977) was a British born actor, the most famous actor in early to mid Hollywood cinema era, and also a notable director. ... Laurel and Hardy Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy are probably the most famous comedy duo in film history. ... The Keystone Kops was a series of silent film comedies featuring an incompetent group of policemen produced by Mack Sennett for his Keystone Film Company between 1912 and 1917. ... The Three Stooges were an American comedy act in the 20th century. ... A cartoon is any of several forms of art, with varied meanings that evolved from one to another. ... Tom & Jerry title card from the 1940s Tom and Jerry were an animated cat (Tom) and mouse (Jerry) team who formed the basis of a massively successful series of theatrical short cartoons created, written, and directed by animators William Hanna and Joseph Barbera (later of Hanna-Barbera fame), and produced... Looney Tunes opening title Looney Tunes is a Warner Brothers animated cartoon series that preceded the Merrie Melodies series, and is both WBs first animated theatrical series and the second longest continuous animated series in any medium. ...

See also

• Joke

A joke is a short story or short series of words spoken or communicated with the intent of being laughed at or found humorous by the listener or reader. ...

External links

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