They usually play on the flaws and absurdities of human nature. In a short story, a miser who is so stingy that he tries to bargain with the Grim Reaper to take someone else instead of him. The combination of the serious concept of death and the ridiculous behavior of the miser creates that dark humorous effect.
Dark humor short stories often feature unexpected or absurd situations. For example, characters might find themselves in a completely illogical yet real - ish situation, like in 'The Metamorphosis' where a man turns into an insect.
Dark humor short stories also tend to play with taboos. They might touch on topics like death, violence, or social norms in a way that is not typical. By breaking these boundaries in a humorous context, they create a unique and often thought - provoking reading experience. This can make the reader both uncomfortable and amused at the same time.
They are often satirical. For example, they might mock the empty promises of politicians. Like when a politician says he'll cut taxes but then raises other fees instead.
One characteristic is the unexpectedness. They often have a twist that catches you off - guard, like in the story where the doctor says 'I'll deal with you later' to the man who thinks he's a deck of cards. Another is that they can be a bit macabre. For example, the skeleton asking for a beer and a mop. It's not your typical humorous situation but it makes you laugh because it's so absurd and a little bit creepy at the same time. Also, they sometimes play with taboos or uncomfortable topics in a way that still manages to be funny, without being too offensive.
Good dark humor short stories often rely on a certain level of absurdity. Consider a story where the Grim Reaper is complaining about his job because all the souls he has to collect keep asking for selfies. It's absurd because the Grim Reaper is a very serious and often feared figure in mythology, but here he is dealing with modern - day annoyances like selfies. This combination of the serious and the absurd creates that unique dark humor effect.
They often involve personal or unique situations. For example, something that happens only within a family or a small group. Dark humor in these stories usually takes an unexpected turn, like in the story of the old cat. The comment about the cat not scratching furniture after death is unexpected and a bit dark. It's not the normal reaction one would expect in a mourning situation.
They are usually concise. For example, a short story like 'Why don't scientists trust atoms? Because they make up everything.' gets the humor across in just a few words.
Here is one. A man goes to the doctor and says, 'Doctor, I think I'm a moth.' The doctor says, 'I'm a doctor, not a psychiatrist. Why did you come here?' The man replies, 'Well, your light was on.'
They often have unexpected twists. For example, in a story where a man goes to a pet store to buy a goldfish. He asks the clerk if the goldfish can do tricks. The clerk says 'yes, it can jump out of the tank and do backflips'. The man buys it and when he gets home, the goldfish just swims around. It's the unexpectedness that makes it funny.
Funny dark stories often have an element of surprise. For example, you might expect something truly terrifying but then it turns out to be something silly or unexpected like in the story of the haunted house that turned out to have raccoons having a party. They also usually involve a bit of mystery at first, which makes the reader or listener intrigued.