How to play Exquisite Corpse
In The Book of Exquisite Corpse I explore the bizarre storytelling possibilities suggested by this wonderfully weird word game that was invented 100 years ago.
Learn how the game works, see examples and give it a go yourself with a free downloadable game sheet!
Learn how the game works, see examples and give it a go yourself with a free downloadable game sheet!
What is Exquisite Corpse?
“Exquisite Corpse” is what the early 20th century French Surrealists did to the parlour game, Consequences. They took the story-making game to the next level of bizarre by boiling it down from a few paragraphs to a single sentence.
It’s called Exquisite Corpse because in their first round of the game the Surrealists’ came up with this:
"The exquisite corpse shall drink the new wine."
Exquisite Corpse is hilarious fun if you let loose with your imagination. It can also inspire great story ideas, although they will be truly, utterly strange; perhaps, even, Deeply Weird.
It’s called Exquisite Corpse because in their first round of the game the Surrealists’ came up with this:
"The exquisite corpse shall drink the new wine."
Exquisite Corpse is hilarious fun if you let loose with your imagination. It can also inspire great story ideas, although they will be truly, utterly strange; perhaps, even, Deeply Weird.
Examples of game play:
"The sweaty flower pot distractedly splattered the swooning black hole."
"The lush telephone salesman stupidly sat on the metaphysical fingertip."
"The opulent magic boots lightly saved the competitive manufacturer of pens."
"The humungous vampire angrily washed the engorged cheese."
("Cheese" was my word, but I very nearly wrote "bunny"!)
"The lush telephone salesman stupidly sat on the metaphysical fingertip."
"The opulent magic boots lightly saved the competitive manufacturer of pens."
"The humungous vampire angrily washed the engorged cheese."
("Cheese" was my word, but I very nearly wrote "bunny"!)
So, how do I play?
You need a minimum of 5 or 6 players. Each player has their own blank slip of paper, cut horizontally from an A4 sheet. Even better: print off this game sheet (with “landscape” orientation) and cut along the solid black lines, and you’ll have a ready-made prompt for each turn, like this:
Everyone begins by writing a describing word in the first box of their slip of paper.
Then, fold over your slip just enough to hide your entry from the next person (but without covering up the next entry box for “thing/ person/ animal”), before passing it to your left.
Now everyone has a slip of paper that’s been folded over a little. (No peeking!)
It’s time to write your next go into the next available entry box: a thing, person or animal.
Once again, after writing your entry, fold your slip just enough to cover up your word, and pass it to the person on your left.
Get the idea?
Keep on writing entries (following the order of word/ phrase types, as shown in the game slip above), each time hiding your entry as you pass it on to the next person, until all the paper slips are completely filled. One last time, pass your strip of paper (by now, a tiny clump of folds upon folds) to the person on your left, and take turns to read out the ridiculous sentences you have compiled through your collective and random imaginings.
So. Are your sentences weirdly suggestive, or just plain bonkers? Do they hint at familiar situations or fantastical stories? If nothing else, Exquisite Corpse will get your imaginations firing and should provide a laugh or ten.
During game play, you may find that synchronicities occur; you might start coming up with similar words, or words which seem to describe (in story-like, metaphorical ways) what has been happening in each other’s lives. Sometimes, these are things which you couldn’t possibly know about. Is something spooky going on? Are your minds connecting?
During game play, you may find that synchronicities occur; you might start coming up with similar words, or words which seem to describe (in story-like, metaphorical ways) what has been happening in each other’s lives. Sometimes, these are things which you couldn’t possibly know about. Is something spooky going on? Are your minds connecting?
Why not try a round or two of Exquisite Corpse with your family/ friend bubble?
Download and print out the game sheet, and get chuckling! A reminder of how to play is given at the top of the sheet.
Can I play Exquisite Corpse during lockdown?
It is possible to play in a video conference, although it is a bit fiddly. As there’s no way of passing slips of paper to each other, one person has to act as host, and the other players must send their entries to that person in a private chat message so that no-one else reads them. The host collates everyone’s entries as randomly as possible.
This is much slower than playing in person. I'm experimenting to try and find a better way. If you can think of a solution, please let me know! I would love to hear from you.
This is much slower than playing in person. I'm experimenting to try and find a better way. If you can think of a solution, please let me know! I would love to hear from you.
For unique, Deeply Weird stories inspired by Exquisite Corpse game play, visit
THE BOOK OF EXQUISITE CORPSE
THE BOOK OF EXQUISITE CORPSE
Thanks for reading. All written contents copyright of Anna Tizard, 2020.
"Glaring Genie Cloud" image rendered by Jon Smith, 2019. All rights reserved.