• Comprehend a spoof text.
• Identify the structure of spoof texts;
Definition and Social Function of Spoof
A funny story is always interesting. It really amuses readers. This amusement is actually the main function of a spoof text.
Spoof text is a text which tells a factual story, happened in the past time with an unpredictable and a funny ending. Its social function is to entertain and share the story.
Generic Structures of Spoof Text commonly consist of :Spoof text is a text which tells a factual story, happened in the past time with an unpredictable and a funny ending. Its social function is to entertain and share the story.
- Orientation
- Events
- Twist
- Focusing on people, animals or certain things
- Using action verb; ate, ran, etc
- Using adverb of time and place
- Told in chronological order
Let’s read and comprehend the spoof texts below!
Text 1
Nasreddin’s Coat
Nasreddin’s Coat
One day Nasreddin had been invited to the dinner party. He went to the party by wearing old clothes. When he arrived in the party, nobody looked at him and nobody gave him a seat. He got no food in the party so he went home and change his clothes.
Next he put on his best clothes. He wore his newest coat and went to the party again. The host at once got up and came to meet him. The host offered him the best table and gave him a good seat and served him the best food.
Nasreddin sat and put off his coat. He put his coat and said; “Eat the food, Coat!” the hosts and guests were very surprised and asked Nareddin; “What are doing?” Nasreddin replied calmly; “When I came here with my old clothes, nobody looked at me. Then I went home and put on my best clothes. I came back in my newest coat and you all give me this best food and drink. So, you give food to my coat instead of me”. Getting Nasreddin's answer, they just shook the head.
Next he put on his best clothes. He wore his newest coat and went to the party again. The host at once got up and came to meet him. The host offered him the best table and gave him a good seat and served him the best food.
Nasreddin sat and put off his coat. He put his coat and said; “Eat the food, Coat!” the hosts and guests were very surprised and asked Nareddin; “What are doing?” Nasreddin replied calmly; “When I came here with my old clothes, nobody looked at me. Then I went home and put on my best clothes. I came back in my newest coat and you all give me this best food and drink. So, you give food to my coat instead of me”. Getting Nasreddin's answer, they just shook the head.
Generic Structure Analysis:
- Orientation: one day, Nasreddin was invited to a dinner party
- Event 1: He was in the party with his old cloth
- Event 2: He was in the party with his best newest coat
- Twist: Among the hosts and guests, he asked his coat to eat the served food
Text 2
Penguin in the Park
Penguin in the Park
Once a man was walking in a park when he across a penguin. He took it to a policeman and said; "What should I do?" The policeman replied; "Take it to the zoo!".
The next day, the policeman saw the man in the same park. The man was still carrying the penguin. The policeman was rather surprised and walked up to the man and asked; "Why are you still carrying the penguin? Didn't you take it to the zoo?" The man replied; "I certainly did.
And it was a great idea because the penguin really enjoyed it. So, today I am taking it to the movie".
The next day, the policeman saw the man in the same park. The man was still carrying the penguin. The policeman was rather surprised and walked up to the man and asked; "Why are you still carrying the penguin? Didn't you take it to the zoo?" The man replied; "I certainly did.
And it was a great idea because the penguin really enjoyed it. So, today I am taking it to the movie".
Generic Structure Analysis:
- Orientation; Introducing participants: "He" and Penguin. They were in the park
- Event1; The man tended to take the penguin to the park
- Event; The following day, the man were still carrying the penguin
- Twist; Even, finally the man would take the penguin to the movies
- Focusing on certain certain participants; He, penguin, policeman
- Using action verb; carry, walk up
- Using adverb of time and place; once, in the park
- Told in chronological order; chronological order by days, the next day
Text 3
Green, Pink and Yellow
Green, Pink and Yellow
Can you name the colors in English?Yes, you’re right. Blue, red, yellow and so on. By the way, I have a funny story about the colors. Do you want to hear it? Okay, listen to me carefully
One day, an English teacher was explaining about colors to his students. After he had finished explaining, he asked his students “Who can make a sentence using the words green, pink and yellow?”
James, the smartest student in the class, quickly raised his hand and answered, ”When the yellow morning sun comes, I see a beautiful girl wearing a pink blouse walking through the green grass”. “Excellent! James, you are a very good student.” praised the teacher.
“Me, me, sir” Johny, the naughtiest student in the class said while raising his hand. And then he said, “I heard the telephone ringing green...green, then I pink up the receiver and I said, “Yellow,who’s speaking there?”
One day, an English teacher was explaining about colors to his students. After he had finished explaining, he asked his students “Who can make a sentence using the words green, pink and yellow?”
James, the smartest student in the class, quickly raised his hand and answered, ”When the yellow morning sun comes, I see a beautiful girl wearing a pink blouse walking through the green grass”. “Excellent! James, you are a very good student.” praised the teacher.
“Me, me, sir” Johny, the naughtiest student in the class said while raising his hand. And then he said, “I heard the telephone ringing green...green, then I pink up the receiver and I said, “Yellow,who’s speaking there?”
