Satire

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Satire
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Why are these funny?
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What is satire?

• In satire, human or individual vices, follies,
  abuses or shortcomings are held up to find fault
  with by means of ridicule, mockery, irony, or
  other methods, ideally with the intent to bring
  about improvement. Although satire is meant to
  be funny, the purpose of satire is not primarily
  humor in itself so much as an attack on something
  of which the author strongly disapproves, using
  the weapon of wit.
• What? Paraphrase, please

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What is satire?

• Satire Making fun of some aspect of culture,
  society, and/or human nature to hopefully improve
  it or inspire change.

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Isnt that comedy?

• Satire differs from comedy in that
• Satire seeks to correct, improve, or reform
  throughout ridicule
• Comedy aims simply to amuse its audience
• Satire uses laughter as a weapon against
  something that exists outside the work itself.

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Two types of satire

• Formal (Direct) Satire
• The persona (speaker) uses first-person point of
  view
• This speaker may address the reader or a
  character within the work
• Example A Modest Proposal

• Indirect Satire
• Some format other than direct address to the
  reader
• This is usually a fictional narrative, in which
  objects of satire are characters
• Example Animal Farm

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Devices of Satire

• The chief device of satire is irony.
• What are the three types of irony?

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Devices of Satire

• Other Devices
• Parody poking fun at something by mimicking
  or imitating it
• Caricature poking fun at a character by
  exaggerating its personal
  characteristics in drawing or narrative

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Devices of Satire

• Juxtaposition the arrangement of two or
  more characters, ideas, or words
  side-by-side for the purpose of comparison,
  contrast, or character development
• Sarcasm taunting on a personal level by
  saying something and meaning the opposite

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Devices of Satire

• Innuendo a derogatory suggestion that is
  not literally spoken but rather hinted at
• Understatement A figure of speech in
  which a writer or speaker deliberately
  makes a situation seem less
  important than it is

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Analyzing Satire in 5 easy steps!

• 1. What's the tone of the satire?
• (grim, cheerful, sardonic, mock serious,
  optimistic, etc.)
• 2. What type of satire is this?
• (direct vs. indirect)
• 3. What is the writer satirizing?
• (what aspect of society are they trying to
  criticize?)
• 4. What is the writer's purpose in satirizing
  this
• subject?
• (what do they want to change?)
• 5. What literary techniques does the writer use
  in
• this satire?
• (hyperbole, understatement, irony, humor, etc.)

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Homework

• Find your own example of satire to share with the
  class. Identify the satirical devices used and
  the effect they have using the five steps. Be
  prepared to present this to the class on Monday.