How to Tell a Knock-Knock Joke: Informative essay.

Knock-knock. . . Who's there? Wooden... Wooden who? Wooden you think telling a knock-knock joke would be easy. Mankind has been telling knock-knock jokes since the second grade. The art of telling a knock-knock joke is a delicate one indeed. As a whole, mankind has been striving to perfect the timing and delivery of the joke for many centuries. Although the art of telling a generic knock-knock joke may seem simple and maybe even trivial, there are a few things one must know before undertaking this task.

To be effective at telling a knock-knock joke one must understand the nature of the joke. Combining for a very dangerous combination, knock-knock jokes are generally short, simple and a little bit corny. Because of the childish nature of the jokes, second graders seem to take to the jokes like a duck to water. The joke is generally told in native English speaking countries and often used to break the ice in permitting situations. Although the knock-knock joke at first glance may appear to be harmless and simplistic in nature it can be as damaging to one's reputation as spending three consecutive days in the library. One must always remember that regardless of the ease of telling a knock-knock joke one must never abuse this power.

Throughout history many people have attempted to tell a knock-knock joke and come to the harsh realization that the joke they told was either inappropriate, too corny, or simply too complicated. A common mistake committed among knock-knock joke tellers throughout the world is talking too much. To avoid excessive verbiage it is safest to stick with the default five-line format. The standard five-line format is as follows:

1. The punster: "Knock-knock." (indicating a door has been struck to gain attention)

2. The recipient: "Who's there?" (in an expecting tone)

3. The punster: a response (usually containing a word that will set up the punch line)

4. The recipient: repeats the response plus "who?" (a request of clarification)

5. The punster: the punch line (usually containing a misusage or play on words from the previous response)

If this format is followed one can be assured that the joke they tell will not be too verbose or complicated to effectively convey the humor of the joke, however, this does not guarantee the success of the joke. Another very important aspect of telling a knock-knock joke often overlooked is word emphasis. If the punch line relies on a pun, or wordplay, for its humor, emphasize the word or phrase that constitutes the pun by saying it more clearly and loudly than the rest of the punch line. For example when telling a joke such as: "Knock, Knock; who's there?; Sarah; Sarah who?; Sarah reason you're not laughing?"; it's important to help the recipient understand that the word "Sarah" in the punch line is indeed the name given in the previous response, otherwise, they may mistake the word for the phrase, "Is there." Committing such an error can be detrimental to the success of one's knock-knock joke. Finally, perhaps the most damaging error one can make when telling a knock-knock joke is laughing at one's own joke. I'm sure that everyone can identify at least one person they know that always seems to be the one laughing the hardest at their own joke. This is perhaps the knock-knock joke's equivalent to Napoleon's march into Russia. By and large the punster usually knows that it is improper to laugh at one's own jokes but because they are either out of practice or untrained in telling a knock-knock joke they can't seem to elude this monster of mistakes. If one has already developed this bad habit they must take every reasonable action to remedy this devastating faux pas. Continuing a life filled with laughter surrounding your own jokes can only lead to loneliness and a lack of friendship.

Knock-knock jokes have come a long way since the very first joke was told. They have become such a large part of our society that they can be found in almost everything we do. They can be applied to every aspect of our lives. From a patriotic, "Knock-Knock..., Who's there? Jose..., Jose who? Jose can you see by the dawns early light?"; to a romantic, "Knock-knock..., Who's there? Keith..., Keith who? Keith me, my thweet preentheth."; knock-knock jokes can be used in various situations. There are, however, many situations that it would be inappropriate to tell a knock-knock joke, such as, a funeral session, a job interview and marriage proposals.

The Roman philosopher and lawyer, Seneco, once said, "It is worthier of man to rise in laughter above life than to bewail it. He is more worthy of the human race who laughs at it than he who sheds tears over it." A good knock-knock joke may be just what the doctor has prescribed for someone around you. Laughter has been known to have a strong healing affect on people. An Irish proverb states, "A good laugh and a long sleep are the two best cures." Learning to effectively tell a knock-knock joke can improve one's relationship with family, friends and loved ones. Mastering the art of delivering a punch line can turn an average everyday Jo into a healer by laughter. Mark Twain said, "The human race has only one really effective weapon, and that's laughter. The moment it arises, all our hardnesses yield, all our irritations and resentments slip away, and a sunny spirit takes their place." So, live a little and laugh a lot; tell a knock-knock joke.