Pun-tastic Power: Wordplay That Bites

Pun-tastic Power: Wordplay That Bites

Writing the Satire

Puns are satire’s verbal acrobats – they flip words for a bite. Take a tax: “They hiked my ‘cents’ – now I’ve no sense.” Target a chef: “His stew’s a ‘brew-ha-ha’ – tasteless trouble.” Puns sting by bending meaning – tie them to the flaw. Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” puns with bite. Keep it tight – loose puns flop. Start easy: “My chair ‘seats’ history – it creaks.” Practice turns phrases into playful stabs.

Teaching the Technique

Teach puns with a word-flip drill. Give “rain falls” – twist: “Rain ‘falls’ for me – wet crush.” Show Fallon’s quips – word, bite. Steps: term, flaw, flip. Assign “bus late” – spark: “Bus is ‘tire-d’ – I wait.” Discuss punch: clever wins. Warn off groaners – aim for grins. Pun-off: one word, best flip wins. Puns are tricks – teach them to trick it.