At least once a year, one of my freshmen would ask me why everything we read in ninth grade English was so depressing. A quick look at our curriculum revealed they did have a point. Romeo and Juliet, Of Mice and Men, and short stories like âLamb to the Slaughterâ and âThe Most Dangerous Gameâ all told tales of death and despair. While all are excellent, I began to wonder if I could find some different texts to add to the mix. It turns out, while scary short stories and dramatic short stories are easy to find, good funny short stories for middle and high school students are a bit trickier to track down.
With that in mind, hereâs a list of funny short stories to use in your classroom when you want to bring a bit of humor to your lesson.
1. The Ransom of Red Chief by O. Henry
All of us have experienced the ironic disappointment of getting something we thought we wanted, only to discover we really donât want it after all. Reading this short story of kidnappers who think theyâre going to receive a large ransom for the young boy theyâve stolen, only to end up paying his parents to take him back again, will have your students laughing out loud.
In class: O. Henry loved irony, and this short story is no exception. Itâs perfect for a quick review (or introduction) to this literary device. But I would also love to use this short story as a way to introduce or reinforce allusion, as he makes several allusions throughout the story. Finally, it could be a great challenge for older students to ask them to find modern retellings or reimaginings of this concept in other media.
2. Ruthless by William DeMille
OK, this one might be a bit of a controversial addition to a list of funny short stories, but Iâm including it anyway. Thereâs something darkly humorous in this little tale about a man who goes too far in a plot for revenge only to have it backfire on him in the worst possible way. Some of your students will feel bad for the protagonist while others will feel he deserves his fate. Regardless, your class will have a great discussion about it at the end.
In class: There are so many writing prompts you could use from this story I donât know where to begin. It could be used as the springboard for an argumentative writing unit, with students arguing whether the main character was justified in his actions or not. It could also be perfect for a discussion on characterization by asking students what can we learn about the main character and his wife by their actions and statements.
3. Theyâre Made Out of Meat by Terry Bisson
I love introducing students to science fiction, especially in the form of funny short stories. We really donât use sci-fi enough in our English classes. In this story, two aliens discuss the bizarre new life form theyâve discovered and try to figure out how it thinks and lives. Your students will laugh out loud when they discover that the aliens are talking about humans and love figuring out the everyday activities and items the aliens just canât seem to make sense of.
In class: This is perfect for introducing a new genre to students. After reading, ask students to craft their own science-fiction short story. As a class, brainstorm a list of activities and events that take place all the time that we think are totally normal. Then, ask students to write their version of an alien race trying to figure out a birthday party, after-school detention, or lunch in the school cafeteria.
4. Charles by Shirley Jackson
Written by the same woman who wrote the eerie short story âThe Lottery,â this story is guaranteed to make students of all ages chuckle. The tale of the worst kindergarten student ever, as told by a classmate to his mother at the end of every school day, your students will love hearing all about Charlesâ antics. The twist at the end of the tale will make students gasp and giggle.
In class: Perfect for lessons on irony, your students can debate whether Jacksonâs funny short story demonstrates verbal, situational, or dramatic irony. Iâve also used this story to show students how an author can utilize dialogue as a method for developing characterization.
5. Thank You, Maâam by Langston Hughes
Like âCharles,â this is another classic, well-known story. An older woman takes a young man under her wing after he attempts to steal her purse. As they spend time together, she teaches him a valuable lesson about life. Itâs perfect for upper-elementary and middle school students.
In class: This is one of those funny short stories that lends itself to lessons about dialogue, diction, theme, and characterization. Itâs also a great text to use for practice discussions or Socratic seminars. Students could easily develop questions about the actions of the characters. They could consider how they would have responded in the same situation. And they could even reimagine the story as if it were written today.
6. Lord Oakhurstâs Curse by O. Henry
While many students will have read âThe Gift of the Magi,â this short story by the same author is much less well known. Lord Oakhurst is dying, his wife is grieving (or is she?), and a doctor arrives to try to help. Your students will be shocked and amused by this quick read.
In class: Indirect characterization leaps to the foreground in this funny short story as students can debate whether Lord Oakhurstâs wife is truly as sad as she says she is throughout the story. The story also makes use of flashbacks, making it great for introducing or reviewing that concept.
7. Wealthy Teen Nearly Experiences Consequence by The Onion Staff
Satire is a tough genre for so many students. The popular satirical online news magazine The Onion comes to the rescue here with a hysterical piece that, while not a short story exactly, certainly tells a tale students will guffaw over. In the article, students learn the plight of a young man who almost received severe consequences for driving while under the influence. Some satirical pieces are almost too serious for students to see as satire, but this one does a great job of taking a serious subject and turning it on its head to make a point.
In class: This piece is perfect for students who arenât ready to grapple with some of the more complex satirical pieces theyâre often given in school. If your group isnât quite ready for Swiftâs A Modest Proposal, this is a great place to start. As an introduction to satire, pairing this piece with actual news reports of cases where privileged young people have received shockingly light sentences for serious crimes will definitely keep your students engaged (and enraged?).
8. Maddened by Mystery or The Defective Detective by Stephen Leacock
This short story caper takes on the classic detective trope and mocks it mercilessly. Over-the-top costumes, mistaken identities, and a ridiculous reveal make this a truly funny short story to share with your students.
In class: I wish I still taught the mystery unit I taught for many years so that I could add this funny short story to the mix. This is a perfect piece to introduce satire. It mocks many of the most common elements of typical detective stories in a truly hilarious fashion.
9. There Was Once by Margaret Atwood
Given her prominence in current popular culture, Margaret Atwood is an author our students should know. This short story about a fairy-tale writer receiving some âconstructive criticismâ on how to make their story more inclusive is sure to inspire reactions among your middle or high schoolers.
In class: This is a great short story to use when teaching the importance of how dialogue can impact tone. Additionally, it would be a great piece to bring to any discussion of whether or not students should read âoldâ stories that have language or ideas that are considered problematic today.
10. A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift
Definitely one for older students, this essay is a more complex text than many on this list. That being said, itâs a classic for a reason. Swiftâs shocking and controversial (and highly satirical) suggestion that the plight of poor Irish peasants could be solved by having them sell their infants to rich British people to eat continues to resonate to this day. Give this to your high school students without any warning and get ready for some interesting reactions and responses.
In class: This piece is a staple in many high school lessons about satire, but I think it could also be used brilliantly in discussions about current political discourse. We struggle with recognizing satire in media today just as much as people did in Swiftâs time. Additionally, the parallels between how the wealthy and elite in society look down at the less fortunate then and now could definitely make for some heavy, yet important, classroom discussions. Finally, itâs a perfect text for a lesson on toneâask students to consider why Swift chose to write in a logical and emotionless voice about such a horrifying idea.
11. Joy by Anton Chekhov
The main character in this funny short story becomes famous. He rushes home to tell his family. Your students will love the reactions of his stunned family. Theyâll also have plenty to say about the protagonistâs glorious new stardom.
In class: Perfect for units covering tragic heroes or characters who fall from grace, Chekhovâs work is a pretty searing commentary on the ideas surrounding what it means to be famous. Your students will have a great time making comparisons between the protagonist and various YouTube or TikTok stars of today.
12. A Dish Best Served Cold by Tristan Jimerson
Time to throw a curveball into the game. Have you heard of The Moth? Itâs an organization with the mission to âpromote the art and craft of storytelling and to honor and celebrate the diversity and commonality of human experience.â They have open-mic storytelling nights in different cities around the country where people just stand up and tell stories based on a preset theme. You can find lots of them on The Mothâs website and on YouTube. This one is about a man who has his identity stolen by a Dominoâs Pizza employee. His mission to get revenge will have you and your students laughing out loud.
In class: Many of the stories do include a swear word or deal with adult themes, so be sure to preview the story first. I love the idea of sharing verbal storytelling with students of all ages, especially in the context of a unit on funny short stories. Itâs great for reluctant readers and could make an awesome alternative assessment option.
13. The Catbird Seat by James Thurber
Written by the same author who wrote âThe Secret Life of Walter Mitty,â this story is also about an unhappy man who dreams of improving his life. The way he accomplishes this, however, is where the humor (and some shock!) comes in.
In class:Â Introducing students to more challenging text can always be a bit of a tough sell, so itâs nice to have a few short stories to warm students up to the idea. Students can practice transacting with text, asking questions about sections that confuse them, and working together to build comprehension.
14. âIâm a Short Afternoon Walk and Youâre Putting Way Too Much Pressure on Meâ by Emily Delaney
Another curveball addition to this list of funny short stories! I love introducing my students to examples of real-life writing that is actually going on today. While many funny short stories on this list are from the early 1900s, this piece was written in 2020 and appeared in McSweeneyâs Internet Tendency. The site features humorous pieces on a variety of timely topics. While many arenât appropriate for school, others, like this one, are perfect examples of how people are still writing and creating today. In this piece, the personified âafternoon walkâ explains to the person taking it that it canât be everything the walker needs it to be.
In class:Â Best suited for older middle school and high school students, I would love to use this as a mentor text. Imagine the creative writing pieces students could come up with if asked to personify something in their lives.
15. My Financial Career by Stephen Leacock
Confession timeâI hate ordering food by phone. It doesnât matter if itâs healthy or not, or if Iâm ordering for one person or 20. I hate it. I get flustered and almost always end up messing something up. Hence why this story, about a man who gets nervous in banks, spoke to me. Leacockâs description of the main character fumbling his way through opening a bank account had me laughing out loud.
In class: Finding characters from the past that students can relate to is tricky. I like the idea of asking students to free-write or discuss what situations make them feel anxious or uncomfortable. They could write down feelings, descriptions, and images. After reading this story, they could create their own humorous (or serious) stories about their own scenario.
16. The Great Automatic Grammatizator by Roald Dahl
Iâll admit this one blew my mind a bit, which is why I love the idea of sharing it with students. This short story, about a young man who invents a device that gathers together all the stories and novels ever written and then, using a mathematical formula, uses them to churn out new stories at lightning-fast speeds, was written in 1954. Thatâs right, Roald Dahl predicted ChatGPT and AI-generated stories decades ago. Watch your studentsâ minds be blown as they read this one.
In class: While Dahl may not have meant this short story to be considered science fiction, it certainly could fit into that genre. This piece would be perfect to pair with nonfiction articles about how AI is affecting creative fields as well as an argumentative unit in which students discuss whether or not these stories are better or worse than those written by human authors.
17. Growing Down by Shel Silverstein
Yes, itâs a poem. But it also tells a story, which makes it a great addition to this list of funny short stories. In this poem, we meet a grumpy old man who is always telling people to grow up. But one day, someone tells him to âgrow down.â When he does, he discovers he likes it much more than growing up.
In class: This piece would be perfect for students who are struggling to grasp concepts like theme or characterization. Thereâs plenty of direct and indirect characterization throughout the poem, and the message is pretty obvious throughout. Additionally, Shel Silversteinâs voice is perfect for discussions about tone.
18. The Eyes Have It by Philip K. Dick
I chuckle, groan, and, yes, roll my eyes every time I reread this short story. Itâs such an enjoyable little piece about a man who discovers âproofâ that aliens exist and are hiding among us even though they can do shocking things with their bodies. It was always particularly well received by my students who didnât really love figurative language and wished authors would just âsay what they meant.â
In class: This story would be great as an introduction to dramatic irony. Part of what makes it so great is how we, as readers, groan each time the protagonist finds âproofâ of alien life that we recognize as just an authorâs use of imagery, hyperbole, and nonliteral language.
19. Television by Roald Dahl
Another poem, I know. But itâs longish, so that counts, right? Your students might pick up on the parallels in theme between this fast-paced poem and the character of Mike Teavee from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Dahl was definitely not a fan of young people watching television instead of playing outside or reading books. One can only imagine what he would have thought about how much time our students spend looking at their phones today!
In class: I love the idea of asking students to write a modern version of this poem, substituting cell phones or TikTok in place of Dahlâs loathed television. Itâs also a great piece for discussing tone, as Dahlâs feelings are made so abundantly clear throughout the text.
20. First-Day Fly by Jason Reynolds
Jason Reynolds is a genius when it comes to creating characters who seem so real it feels like youâve met them before. This short story about a young man getting ready for the first day of school will hit your students right in the feels. Theyâll laugh, theyâll relate, and theyâll definitely identify with the struggles the protagonist experiences as he prepares to return to school.
In class: This short story would fit beautifully into any lesson about mood and point of view. The main characterâs ability to express himself and his feelings is so enjoyable to read. It would also be a great study on how allusions can date a text. While our students will understand immediately why the character cares so much about his sneakers remaining perfectly white, will people in the future? It would be interesting to pair this piece with an older text and compare the allusions of each.
Looking for more short stories to share with your class? Check out 70 Great Short Stories To Teach in Middle School.
For more articles like this, be sure to subscribe to our newsletters to find out when theyâre posted!
![Funny-Short-Stories Finding funny short stories to share with your students isn't as easy as it should be. Here's a list guaranteed to get them giggling.](https://www.weareteachers.com/wp-content/uploads/Funny-Short-Stories-683x1024.jpg)