Another characteristic is the use of vivid characters. In 'The Ransom of Red Chief', the character of the naughty boy is so well - described that his actions are what drive the humor. His wild and unruly nature creates all sorts of comical situations for the kidnappers. They are often based on everyday situations but with an exaggerated or ironic take. Like in 'The Gift of the Magi', the simple act of gift - giving during Christmas is made into a story full of humor and love through the ironic situation of the couple sacrificing their prized possessions for each other's gifts.
Humor in these stories can also come from the use of language. Clever wordplay, sarcasm, and witty dialogues are common. For instance, in some stories, characters might say things that are both funny and revealing about their personalities. This combination of language, character, and plot twists makes the funniest short stories so enjoyable.
The funniest stories often have an element of surprise. For example, when something unexpected happens, like a cat suddenly chasing a laser pointer in a very clumsy way. They also tend to have relatable characters. If we can see ourselves or people we know in the characters of the story, it makes it even funnier. And usually, there is some sort of comical situation, like a person getting stuck in an elevator with a bunch of noisy parrots.
Another is the use of absurdity. Like a story where a man tries to use a banana as a phone. The illogical nature of such a scenario is humorous. These funny jokes and stories often play with the norms of our daily life and turn them on their head, making us laugh. They can also involve wordplay, like puns, which add an extra layer of humor.
They often involve misunderstandings. Take a situation where a person is waiting for a job interview and mistakes another interviewee for the interviewer and starts talking about all their plans for the company. Also, the funniest true stories usually have a touch of absurdity. Like a grandma who decides to start skateboarding at the age of 80.
Well, I know this story. A man was wearing two different shoes, one brown and one black, and he didn't notice until his colleague pointed it out at the end of the workday. He was so embarrassed but it was also quite funny.
The innocence. For example, when a kid thinks that a cow can give chocolate milk just because it's brown. They don't have the worldly knowledge yet, so their assumptions are hilarious.
'The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County' by Mark Twain is often considered funny. It's full of lively characters and comical situations.
The unexpected twists are often very funny. For example, in a holiday story about a New Year's party, everyone expected a grand fireworks display at midnight. But the person in charge of the fireworks accidentally set them off at 11:30 while still trying to get them ready. The whole party was startled but then burst into laughter. Another funny element can be the characters' over - the - top reactions. Like when a child in a holiday story gets a present they don't like and they make the most dramatic, sad face ever, which is really comical.
There's this joke. A man goes to the doctor with a strawberry stuck up his bum. Doctor says, 'I've got some cream for that.' It's a simple yet funny play on words with 'cream' being a solution for a strange situation.
A husband thought he could fix a leaky faucet by himself. He took it apart and then couldn't put it back together. Water started spraying everywhere. His wife walked in to find him soaking wet and the bathroom flooded. They still laugh about it today. He learned his lesson about DIY plumbing. Well, sort of. He still tries sometimes and creates more chaos which is always a source of amusement for his wife.
In some stories, when zombies try to interact with modern technology. For example, a zombie trying to use a smartphone. He just keeps poking at it with his bony finger, not understanding how it works at all. It's hilarious.