When I was younger, I really didn’t understand science

Joke Poo: The Literary Critic

When I was younger, I really didn’t understand literary theory. I was confused by semiotics, so I traded my classmate a rare holographic Charizard card and a pack of gummy worms to teach me (it was first edition, he collected Pokémon, and we were both 10).

He sat me down in the library, placing his payment on the table next to us, and explained structuralism. He tried really hard, but realized that a textual example would be the best course of action, so he opened a well-worn copy of “Moby Dick” and explained how the white whale was a signifier representing…well, many things.

I still didn’t understand, and as he’d been explaining for an hour now, he started to get frustrated and slammed the book shut. He slammed it so hard that the cover almost completely separated from the spine. I asked if I could just see one more example, so I could finally grasp the concept.

Then the spine broke.

Okay, let’s dissect this joke and then see if we can generate some comedic enrichment.

Joke Dissection:

• Core Element: The pun “the penny dropped,” playing on both the literal penny being on the table and the idiomatic expression meaning “suddenly understood.”
• Setup: A long, drawn-out explanation of gravity involving a childhood scenario. Key elements include:
  • A young, confused narrator.
  • An impatient friend/teacher.
  • An unconventional payment (goose feather + cent) highlighting childhood bartering.
  • A physical demonstration of gravity.
  • Increasing frustration leading to a dramatic table-banging.
• Humor: The humor arises from the juxtaposition of the elaborate, slightly absurd setup and the simple, pun-based punchline. The length of the setup heightens the comedic effect when the listener/reader realizes the double meaning.

Comedic Enrichment:

Let’s leverage some facts about pennies and gravity to create a related humorous observation:

Observation/Joke:

“So, about that penny dropping and finally understanding gravity… Turns out, that penny actually represents a monumental misunderstanding! Because a US penny is 97.5% zinc, only a thin copper coating. So really, it was mostly zinc that dropped, and I still didn’t understand gravity because, as a kid, all I really understood was that zinc + cent = goose feather. And let’s be honest, explaining gravity with a goose feather? That’s like trying to understand quantum physics with a rubber chicken. Possible, but highly improbable – especially when the most exciting thing happening is the gradual deposition of copper ions onto a zinc electrode.”

Explanation of the Enrichment:

• Builds on the Original: The observation takes the “penny dropped” idea and extends it by introducing a factual element: the composition of a penny.
• Twist/Reversal: The twist is that the “penny dropping” doesn’t actually represent understanding because it’s not really a penny. The pun now has another layer to be enjoyed!
• Absurdity: Using zinc and copper to further explain the childhood misunderstanding adds to the absurdity. This connects to that absurd explanation of gravity with a goose feather.
• Relatability: The comment “as a kid, all I really understood was zinc + cent = goose feather” creates a shared experience of simplified or flawed childhood logic.
• Science-Related Humor: The line about “explaining quantum physics with a rubber chicken” and the ending on the copper deposition brings back the science theme.
• Play on words grad-ual deposition is a pun that alludes to the subject and can be missed when reading, creating extra humor.