The Methods of Satire
The Methods of
Satire
What is satire?
Satire, as it's traditionally understood,
is the ridicule of some vice or
imperfection — an attack on someone or
something by making it look ridiculous
or worthy of scorn.
Although satire is usually funny, it
differs from comedy in at least one
important way: whereas comic laughter
needn't be directed at any particular
target, satire is always derisive.
Examples: The Daily Show, SNL
Three Golden Questions
What groups, institutions,
and/or practices are being
satirized?
What methods does the
author employ when
constructing her or her satire?
What is the tone of the satire?
What groups, institutions, and/or
practices are being satirized?
Group, organization, institution
Individuals
A type of person
A social class
A prevailing philosophy
Social manners
Modern progress or lack thereof
Humankind
Methods of Satire
Irony
Allegory
Fable
Epigram
Parody
Burlesque
Lampoon
Caricature
Hyperbole
Exaggeration
Horatian Satire
Horatian Satire is a type of direct satire
which pokes fun at human foibles with a
witty or even indulgent tone.
Cheerful
Urbane
Tongue-in-cheek
Optimistic
Witty
Chiding
Horatian Satire
-This type of satire is named after the Roman satirist Horatian.
-It seeks to criticize, rather than attack, immorality or stupidity and is more tolerant of human folly.
-Unlike Juvenalian satire, it serves to make us laugh as opposed to holding our failures up for needling.
-It tends to produce a smile.
Juvenalian Satire
Juvenalian is a type of direct satire which denounces sometimes invective, human vice and error in dignified or solemn tones.
Sardonic
Contemptuous
Acerbic
Acrimonious
Indignant
Cutting
Angry
Juvenalian Satirehis type of satire is named after he R• 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 or shock.
Let’s Practice!
http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/world-war-ii-101/n10251?snl=1
What are the writers ridiculing about American society?
What is their purpose?
What is their tone?
Irony
Refers to contrast or discrepancy
between appearance and reality.
Three types of Irony
Verbal Irony
Situational Irony
Dramatic Irony
Verbal Irony
Verbal irony is when there is a contrast between what a speaker literally says and what he or she means.
Example-”Hey John, you did a great job on that paper!”
Situational Irony
Situational irony is when an
event or a situation turns out
to be the reverse of what is
expected.
Example-Winning the lotto
was the best thing that ever
happened to me, until…
Dramatic Irony
Dramatic irony is when the
audience/reader is aware of an
event or situation, that the
characters do not yet know.
Example-In Romeo & Juliet, the
audience knows Juliet is not
really dead, but poor Romeo
does not know this information.
Epigram
A short, pointed, and witty
statement, either constituting
an entire poem or “buried”
within a larger one.
Example-“I would challenge
you to a battle of wits, but I
see you are unarmed!”
Allegory
A type of narrative that attempts
to reinforce its thesis by making
its characters (and sometimes its
events and setting, as well)
represent specific abstract ideas
or qualities.
Example-”Paradise Lost” by
John Milton
Fable
A story with a moral lesson,
often employing animals who
talk and act like human beings.
Example-”The Tortoise and the
Hare”
Allegory and Fable
Parody, Lampoon &
Burlesque
A form of humor that ridicules
person, attitudes, actions, or
things by means of distortion
and exaggeration. Burlesque of
a particular literary work is
referred to as parody.
Examples-The Hunger Pains
Weird Al Yankovic
Caricature, Exaggeration &
Hyperbole
A caricature creates humor by distorting or exaggerating an individual’s prominent physical features.
Analyze this cartoon…
Remember the three golden questions of satire
What or who is being satirized?
What methods are being used?
What is the tone?
DO NOT forget to describe the cartoon so the reader can understand what you are analyzing
Analyze this cartoon
HOMEWORK!
Read Mark Twain’s “Advice to Youth”- a motivational speech.
As you read, highlight/underline satirical passages. Consider the subject matter and Twain’s tone toward it.
After reading, complete the Satire Analysis guide.