Pun-tastic Power: Wordplay That Bites
Writing the Satire
Puns are satires verbal acrobats – they flip words for a bite. Take a tax: “They hiked my cents – now Ive no sense.” Target a chef: “His stews a brew-ha-ha – tasteless trouble.” Puns sting by bending meaning – tie them to the flaw. Shakespeares “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 Fallons 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.