SatireMs. Kucinski

English III

What is Satire?

Satire is a technique used by writers to expose and criticize foolishness and corruption of an individual or a society by using humor, irony, exaggeration or ridicule.

It intends to improve humanity by criticizing its follies (foolishness) and foibles (weaknesses).

A writer in a satire uses fictional characters, which stand for real people, to expose and condemn their corruption.

The Function of Satire

The role of satire is to ridicule or criticize those vices in the society, which the writer considers a threat to civilization.

The writer considers it their obligation to expose these vices for the betterment of humanity.

The Function of Satire

Therefore, the function of satire is not to make others laugh at persons or ideas they make fun of.

It intends to warn the public and to change their opinions about the current corruption andconditions in society.

Type of SatireHoratian: gentle, sympathetic form of satire. Mildly mocks the subject. The audience is asked to laugh at themselves as much as the players.

Horatian SatireThis type of satire is named after the Roman satirist Horatian.

It seeks to criticize, rather than attack, immorality or stupidity.

In general, Horatian satire is gentler, more sympathetic, and more tolerant of human folly.

Unlike Juvenalian satire, it serves to make us laugh at human folly as opposed to holding our failures up for needling.

Horatian satire tends to ridicule human folly in general or by type rather than attack specific persons.

It tends to produce a smile.

Types of Satire

Juvenalian/juvenille: harsh and bitter satire

Juvenalian/juvenileThis type of satire is named after the Roman satirist Juvenal.

It is harsher than Horatian satire because it often attacks and shows contempt for people.

Often, it seeks to address some evil in society through scorn and ridicule.

The Juvenalian satirist approaches his work in a more serious manner and uses dignified language to attack erroneous thinking or vice.

In this way Juvenalian satire evokes feelings of scorn, shock, and righteous indignation in the mind of the reader.

Characteristics of Satiric Writing

Irony is a mode of expression, through words (verbal irony) or events (situational irony), conveying a reality different from and usually opposite to appearance or expectation.

The surprise recognition by the audience often produces a comic effect, making irony often funny.

Characteristics of Satiric Writing

Hyperbole is deliberate exaggeration to achieve an effect; overstatement.

Characteristics of Satiric WritingUnderstatement: the presentation of something as being smaller or less important than it actually is

Litotes are a form of understatement that involves making an affirmative point by denying its opposite.

For Example:

“Being tortured with fire must have been somewhat uncomfortable.”

“Rap videos with dancers in them are not uncommon.“

“There are a few Starbucks in America."

Characteristics of Satiric Writing

A caricature is an exaggeration or other distortion of an individual's prominent features or characteristics to the point of making that individual appear ridiculous.

The term is applied more often to graphic representations than to literary ones.

Characteristics of Satiric Writing

Wit is most commonly understood as clever expression, whether aggressive or harmless; that is, with or without derogatory intent toward someone or something in particular.

Characteristics of Satiric WritingSarcasm is intentional mockery, generally directed at another person and intended to hurt.

The term comes from a Greek word meaning “to tear flesh like dogs” and signifies a cutting remark.

Sarcasm usually involves obvious, verbal irony, achieving its effect by jeeringly stating the opposite of what is meant so as to heighten the insult.

Characteristics of Satiric Writing

Ridicule is the use of words intended to belittle a person or idea and arouse contemptuous laughter.

The goal is to condemn or criticize by making the thing, idea, or person seem laughable and ridiculous.

Characteristics of Satiric WritingInvective is speech or writing that abuses, denounces, or attacks. It can be directed against a person, cause, idea, or system.

It employs a heavy use of negative controversial language.

For Example: “I cannot but conclude the bulk of your natives to be the most pernicious race of little odious vermin that nature ever suffered to crawl upon the surface of the earth.” (Swift, Gulliver’s Travels)

Satire TechniquesExaggeration: To enlarge, increase, or represent something beyond normal bounds that it becomes ridiculous and its faults can be seen.

Caricature is the exaggeration of a physical feature or trait. Cartoons, especially political cartoons, provide extensive examples of caricature.

Burlesque is the ridiculous exaggeration of language. For instance, when a character who should use formal, intelligent language speaks like a fool or a character who is portrayed as uneducated uses highly sophisticated, intelligent language.

Satire TechniquesIncongruity: To present things that are out of place or are absurd in relation to its surroundings.

Particular techniques include oxymoron, metaphor, and irony.

Satire TechniquesParody: To imitate the techniques and/or style of some person, place, or thing in order to ridicule the original.

For parody to be successful, the reader must know the original text that is being ridiculed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGIM_yNzeUo

Satire TechniquesReversal: To present the opposite of the normal order.

Reversal can focus on the the order of events, such as serving dessert before the main dish or having breakfast for dinner.

Additionally, reversal can focus on hierarchical order—for instance, when a young child makes all the decisions for a family or when an administrative assistant dictates what the company president decides and does.

Satire https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSXNU1_bouc&feature=youtu.be

As you watch the video, jot down all of the various characteristics of satire you see in the video.

Then, determine whether the video is Horatian or Juvenalian satire and write a sentence or two explaining why.