Man A: Wow, Man B, it is certainly cold and we seem to be out of food.
Man B: Indeed, Man A, without food our hunger cannot be satisfied. Hunger
brings us even closer to the knife's edge of insanity.
Man A: I have an idea! Why not eat a piece of ourselves to satisfy what is left of our hunger and sanity?
Man B: Fiddlesticks! That is crazy, such a thing is inhumane!
Man A: Well, it is the only way we can survive this treacherous cold.
Man B: I have a better idea!
Man A: Really?
Man B: **** man let's roll to Mickey D's and order us some Big Macs.
Man A: Aw **** yeah boi.
You see, this joke is very well made. In the beginning you think that both Man A and Man B would eat each other due to their veeery limited options but I finished the joke with a ridiculous ending.
If we break the joke down we can see it's genius more clearly.
Lines 1 & 2 show the current situation. The reader is unaware of what will happen next until they continue reading. This is the "beginning". Here you show the situation without explaining it.
Line 3 introduces Man A's idea, this line is important as it sets up a bridge for the next line...
In Lines 4 and 5, Man B sets up a reaction and Man A replies, this acts as another bridge toward the unexpected ending. Lines 3, 4, and 5, are part of the "middle". Here you introduce the idea, set up a reaction, and then set-up a reply.
Lines 6 and 7 are the final set-ups for the ending, Man B exclaims he has a better idea and Man A shows a reaction. Man A's reaction is important because the joke could not go any further without the reaction towards Man B's sudden idea. This is the "Set up".
In the "closer" Lines 8 and 9 end the joke with a VERY unexpected ending.
This gives the reader the laugh which is the primary goal of the joke.
Here is another example:
Bob:Hey John, it's HOT in here!
John: I know, man, we'll melt!
Bob: WAIT! I HAVE AN IDEA! Let's pour our pee on our heads!
John:What? That's disgusting!
Bob: We can cool ourselves that way.
John: WAIT! I have a better idea!
Bob: Really?
John: Les go down to Burger King and orda us SOME WHOPPERS!
Bob: ****, son, you ain't gotta tell me twice!
Using this basic format already sets up laughs.
Man B: Indeed, Man A, without food our hunger cannot be satisfied. Hunger
brings us even closer to the knife's edge of insanity.
Man A: I have an idea! Why not eat a piece of ourselves to satisfy what is left of our hunger and sanity?
Man B: Fiddlesticks! That is crazy, such a thing is inhumane!
Man A: Well, it is the only way we can survive this treacherous cold.
Man B: I have a better idea!
Man A: Really?
Man B: **** man let's roll to Mickey D's and order us some Big Macs.
Man A: Aw **** yeah boi.
You see, this joke is very well made. In the beginning you think that both Man A and Man B would eat each other due to their veeery limited options but I finished the joke with a ridiculous ending.
If we break the joke down we can see it's genius more clearly.
Lines 1 & 2 show the current situation. The reader is unaware of what will happen next until they continue reading. This is the "beginning". Here you show the situation without explaining it.
Line 3 introduces Man A's idea, this line is important as it sets up a bridge for the next line...
In Lines 4 and 5, Man B sets up a reaction and Man A replies, this acts as another bridge toward the unexpected ending. Lines 3, 4, and 5, are part of the "middle". Here you introduce the idea, set up a reaction, and then set-up a reply.
Lines 6 and 7 are the final set-ups for the ending, Man B exclaims he has a better idea and Man A shows a reaction. Man A's reaction is important because the joke could not go any further without the reaction towards Man B's sudden idea. This is the "Set up".
In the "closer" Lines 8 and 9 end the joke with a VERY unexpected ending.
This gives the reader the laugh which is the primary goal of the joke.
Here is another example:
Bob:Hey John, it's HOT in here!
John: I know, man, we'll melt!
Bob: WAIT! I HAVE AN IDEA! Let's pour our pee on our heads!
John:What? That's disgusting!
Bob: We can cool ourselves that way.
John: WAIT! I have a better idea!
Bob: Really?
John: Les go down to Burger King and orda us SOME WHOPPERS!
Bob: ****, son, you ain't gotta tell me twice!
Using this basic format already sets up laughs.