Mark Twain: Satire to Spare

By Zachary Mendelovici

Satire IsSatire is basically poking fun at forms of

authorityPolitics are most commonly satirized as well as

religionSatire targets “human folly and hypocrisy”

(Blount JR)Satire comes from Latin satura meaning dish of

mixed fruits

Satire Is continuedSatire came about after the civil warPeople were sad and angry at the governmentSatire provided comedy at the expense of the

government

Mark TwainMark Twain was not known to be fond of

politicians or religionHe became increasingly dark and cynical as he

aged “Where fore being all of one mind, we do highly

resolve that government of the grafted by the grafter for the grafter shall not perish from this earth.” (Twain autobiography excerpt taken from McChesney)

Mark Twain and SatireMark Twain was the first real master of satireMany of his books, including Huckleberry Finn,

have satire in themMany believe that Mark Twain’s hatred of

religion led to his satire

Mark Twain and SatireMark Twain “Changed the rules of American

fiction.” (McChesney) He led this new style of literature It was really Mark Twain who can be credited

with American satire

Goals of Mark Twain’s Satire

His main goal was to make people laughHis height was after the Civil War which was a

sad time“From ancient times satirists have shared a

common aim: to expose foolishness in all its guises, vanity, hypocrisy, pedantry, idiocracy, bigotry, and sentimentality.” (Blount JR)

Examples of SatireWhat ought to be done to the man who invented

the celebrating of anniversaries? Mere killing would be too light.

Truth is the most valuable thing we have. Let us economize it.

Denial ain't just a river in Egypt.Cauliflower is nothing but cabbage with a college

education.A classic is something that everybody wants to

have read and nobody wants to read.

Contemporary Satire Contemporary satire has made a major

comeback with shows like The Weekend Update, The Colbert Report, and the Daily Show

Focus mainly on politics, religion, and social issues

Can be major tools during elections

Goals of Contemporary Satire

Many of same topics and approaches as in Twain’s era

Most shows are for viewer’s enjoymentBecome more popular as anger with

government increases

Fun FactsMark Twain never laughed at his own jokesLoved speaking to crowdsRefused loans, always paid his debt

Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJQFI9KJcEkhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVTXOzMszF

E&feature=related

Works Cited Blount JR., Roy. "Mark Twain: America's Original

Superstar." Time.com. Time Magazine, 3 July 2008. Web. 27 Mar. 2012. <http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1820166,00.html>.

Brancaccio, David. "Who's Laughing Now." PBS.org. PBS, 11 July 2003. Web. 27 Mar. 2012. <http://www.pbs.org/now/politics/satire.html>.

McChesney, John. "Satire to Spare." NPR.com. National Public Radio, 15 Nov. 2010. Web. 28 Mar. 2012.

<http://www.npr.org/2010/11/15/131268307/- the-autobiography-of-mark-twain-satire-to-spare>.

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