What are the characteristics of humorous short stories?

They often have unexpected twists. Such as in the story 'A man told his doctor that he wasn't able to do all the things around the house that he used to do. When the examination was over, he said, 'Now, Doc, I can take it. Tell me in plain English what is wrong with me.' 'Well, in plain English,' the doctor replied, 'you're just lazy.' Here, the doctor's response is the unexpected part.

One characteristic is the use of vivid characters. For example, characters like Mullah Nasruddin are often full of quirks and idiosyncrasies that lead to humorous situations. They might be overly confident or a bit naive, which makes their actions and reactions funny.

One characteristic is unexpected twists. For example, in 'The Gift of the Magi', the couple's sacrifices lead to a situation that is both funny and touching in an unexpected way. Another is the use of exaggerated characters. In 'The Ransom of Red Chief', the boy's naughtiness is highly exaggerated, which creates the humor. Also, clever wordplay can be a part of it, like in some of Mark Twain's stories where he plays with language to make the reader laugh.

They often have unexpected twists. In many humorous short stories, like those of O. Henry, the ending takes the reader by surprise. This sudden turn creates humor as it defies the reader's expectations.

One characteristic is unexpected endings. For example, in a story, you might think a character is going to succeed in a certain task, but then something completely unforeseen happens that makes the whole situation funny. Another is the use of absurd situations, like a talking dog giving advice on how to bake a cake.

They often use simple language. For example, they may tell about a child's innocent view of religious things in a humorous way, like a kid thinking angels are just people with big white wings who can fly really fast.

One characteristic is the use of irony. For example, in 'The Gift of the Magi', the couple sells their most precious possessions to buy gifts for each other, but the gifts end up being useless for their original purposes. Another is the creation of absurd situations, like in 'The Ransom of Red Chief' where the kidnappers are outwitted by the kidnapped boy.

Relatable situations. In stories like 'The Little Red Hen', children can understand the concept of fairness. The hen's situation of doing all the work while others are lazy is something kids might see in their own lives, and the way it's presented is humorous.

One characteristic is quick - paced plots. Since they are short, things happen fast, which keeps the humor flowing. For example, in 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy', the plot zips from one crazy situation to another. Another is the use of exaggerated characters. In 'Good Omens', the characters are larger - than - life and their over - the - top actions create humor. Also, they often use wordplay. 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid' has lots of funny dialogue that plays with words in a way kids (and adults) find amusing.

Well, one characteristic is the unexpected twists. For example, in many humorous short fictions, the plot suddenly takes a turn that readers don't anticipate, which often leads to laughter. Another is the use of comical characters. These characters might have exaggerated traits like being overly clumsy or extremely naive. Also, humorous short fictions often play with language. They might use puns, double entendres, or just really witty dialogues that tickle the reader's funny bone.