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A potato farmer was sent to to prison just at time when he should have been digging the ground for planting the new crop of potatoes. He realized that his wife would not be strong enough to do the digging by herself, but that she could manage to do the planting, and he also knew that he did not have any friends or neighbors who would be willing to do the digging for him. So he wrote a letter to his wife which said Please do not dig the potato field. I hide the money and the gun there. Ten days later, he got a letter from his wife. It said, I think somebody is reading your letter before they go out of prison. Some policeman arrived here two days ago and dug up the whole field. What shall I do now? The prisoner wrote back at once. Plant the potatoes, of course!. This example of Spoof Text "A Smart Potato Farmer" is taken from http://hikaridesu.multiply.com/journal/item/25/Spoof_Text_XD
Note on Spoof Text A funny story is always interesting. It really amuses reader. This amusement is actually the main function of spoof text. How spoof text tries to amuse the reader is actually including in the way it is structured. We all know that SPOOF text is built with generic structure of ORIENTATION, EVENTS ant TWIST. Two phases in the first are commonly found in the other text genres. Recount text, for example, has the structures of orientation and events too to hold the readers interest. However the end of the story is what makes spoof text differ from recount text. From the above example, we see clearly that the end of the story is really amusing and that we call TWIST which is the heart of spoof text.
continued; "I can't lie. I promised him that I was going to put that money in that casket with him." Feeling shocked, her friend said; "You mean that you have put every cent of his money in the casket with him?" Then the wife answered; "Surely I did. I got it all together, put all the money into my account and I just wrote him a check."
(Re-written from www.onlyfunnystories.com)
Notice on Generic structure of spoof sample Spoof text is very similar to recount text. Both spoof and recount tell about the past event with chronological order. Its purpose is to amuse reader with funny story. The story mostly is ended with an unpredictable event. The above spoof sample has generic structure as follow: Orientation: It is the introduction of the story. By giving the orientation, reader will recognize, for the first time, who involves in the story.The above story talks about a wife and his husband who loves money too much even up to his death. Events: Several events are explored in chronological way which able to arrange the story read nicely.Promising with her money miser husband, Putting the box inside casket, locking and rolling the casket are the events which build the complete story. Twist: This is the unpredictable event/thing/way which amuse the reader. Readers even did not predict before that it would be. When reading the above story, for the first, readers likely think that the wife would put all the money instead of just a check
me!", but the lion was quick and pounces. The clown soon found himself flat on his back looking up at the angry lion and suddenly he heard a voice from the lions mouth;"Shut up you idiot! Do you want to get us both fired?".
(Re-written and simplified from www.onlyfunnystories.com)
Notes on the Spoofs Generic Structure Orientation: Dave was a lucky man. He suddenly became a very rich man because of the death of his rich uncle who had no children. He inherited his uncles money. Event 1: Being rich, he wanted to set up his estate company Event 2: He had his new office. In his office, he pretended to be a very successful businessman. He acted as had an important client. He showed by making conversation on the phone. Twist: The man whom he showed is a telephone technician. He came to Daves office to connect that phone. The following is another version of the above story, The way it make the story ending is similar. Take a look the following version of spoof text sample General and New Soldier A man recently appointed general in the army was sitting in his new office when a new soldier walked in. Wishing to impress the new soldier, the general picked up the telephone and said, Yes, Mr. President. Im glad you like my suggestions. Ill come by and give you a more detailed report at the White House a little later this week. After hanging up the telephone the general asked, Now, soldier, what can I do for you? Nothing much, sir, said the soldier. I just came in to connect your telephone. This another version of example in spoof text http://hikaridesu.multiply.com/journal/item/25/Spoof_Text_XD is taken from
The guards were not able to argue with Abu Nawas so they left Abu Nawas house and went back to the palace. The guards reported what they had seen to the king. The king was curious on Abu Nawas excuse not to leave the country. Therefore the king ordered his guard to call Abu Nawas to come to the palace. Abu Nawas came to the palace on stilts. The king wondered and said Abu, I will surely punish you because you havent done what I have said. You have not left this country. The King continued And now, look at you. You walk on stilts like a child. Are you crazy? The king pretended to be furious. I remember exactly what you said, Your Majesty Abu Nawas answered calmly. This morning I took a bath in the small pool in my house so that I had not to step on the ground. And since yesterday, I have been walking on this stilts. So you see, Your Majesty, I do not step on the ground of this country. The king was not able to say anything.
(Adapted from S. Hariantos Abu Nawas and King Aaron)
Generic Structure Analysis Orientation: Introducing Abu Nawas and the King on the counteracts about leaving and staying in the country Event 1: Abu Nawas was swimming on the pool Event 2: Abu Nawas was walking on the stilts Twister: Abu Nawas explained that swimming in the pool and walking on the stilts meant not stepping on the ground of the country
Generic Structure Analysis Orientation: introducing a writes as point of view I which is in a theatre last week Event 1: the other theatregoers, young man and young woman, were talking noisily. Event 2: the writer used physical language by turning around to the young man and young woman talk to not to make noisy. Event 3: the write used verbal language by saying I could not hear a word. Twister: the young man misunderstood the writers word and said; Its none of your business. Its a private conversation.