5-Step Process for understanding, analyzing and appreciating satire.
“Satire is a literary technique
in which behaviors or
institutions are ridiculed for
the purpose of improving
society.”
“Satirist use irony and
exaggeration to poke fun at
human faults and foolishness
in order to correct human
behavior.”
“Satire.” The Language of Literature. Edited by Arthur N.
Applebee. Evanston: McDougal Littell, 2002. 584-585. Rpt.
in British Literature. Print.
The satirist uses wit and humor with
a critical, and sometimes judgmental,
attitude.
The goal of the satirist writer is to
expose the faults and foolishness of
others in order to correct human
behavior.
Ultimately the satirist desires to
improve a belief or tradition.
To convey this message, the satirist
will use:
Irony
Sarcasm
Ridicule
Exaggeration
1. Determine the Object
First, determine the object
of satire.
A writer who encourages
you to laugh at a custom,
idea, trend, law, or a
person probably thinks
that the object of laughter
is an undesirable part of
society, and therefore
needs to change.
2. Underlying Message
Second, what is the
underlying message?
Use your knowledge of
what the satirist criticizes to
infer what he or she
believes should be right
and proper.
The underlying message
will not be directly stated.
3. Look for the Irony
Third, identify the type of
irony being used.
The irony often points
directly at the object of
satire, and often relates to
the underlying message.
Remember the three types
of irony: situational,
verbal, and dramatic.
Irony comes from the Ancient Greek eirōneía,
meaning feigned ignorance.
Irony is a literary technique, or event, characterized by
a contrast between reality—what is—and
appearance—what seems to be.
Irony is further defined into three major
categories: situational, verbal, and dramatic .
 A contrast between what we expect to happen,
and what really happens. Where an event occurs
which is unexpected, in the sense that it is
somehow an absurd or mocking contradiction to
what is expected or appropriate.
Remember the Killer
Rabbit of Caerbannog
“What’s he gonna do?
Nibble my bum?”
 Occurs when the meaning of a specific
expression or a word is intended to be
different from what the expression or word
literally means. Sarcasm, puns, and word
play are types of verbal irony.
When I'm feeling tired at work I just
use my smart phone to download a
nap.
Refers to a word
sounding similar to
another word, however
not identical to the sound
of the word.
When the bad poet stood in front of
the judge, the judge thought the
punishment should fit the rhyme.
My friend gave me a book about puns
for my birthday and I loved it. It was
two meaningful.
Sometimes, a clever
redefinition of a word
can be considered a pun.
The definition is
unexpected, and
humorous.
Flashlight: a carrying case for
dead batteries.
Shin: a device for finding tables
in the dark.
Alarms: what an octopus is.
Dockyard: a physician's garden.
Pasteurize: too fast to see.
A play on a relationship
between an adverb, and an
action spoken in dialogue.
These were inspired by an
old-fashioned children’s
book series about the
adventures of Tom Swifty.
 “I've returned from the
lobotomy,” Tom said
absentmindedly.
 “Let's dig up the bodies,”
Tom said gravely.
 “I don't like hot dogs,”
Tom said frankly.
 “Drop the gun,” Tom said
with a disarming smile.
 “I lost my hair,” Tom bawled.
jumbo shrimp
bitter sweet
sweet sorrow
minor miracle
clearly confused
original copies
A figure of speech with
contradictory terms.
found missing
friendly fire
student teacher
current history
Well-boiled icicle for well-oiled bicycle.
Sky as a height for high as a kite.
Parah sailin’ for Sarah Palin.
A result of changing
around, especially
accidentally, the initial
sounds of two or more
words.
 Occurs when the audience or reader is
aware of something important, but the
characters in the story are not aware
of this information.
In the play, Oedipus the King, the audience knows that Oedipus himself is the
murderer of the former king; Oedipus did not know that the man he killed
was the king and his long-lost father. Furthermore, the king’s widow Oedipus
marries is actually his mother!
Have you ever seen a
horror movie that has a
killer on the loose? The
audience knows what lies
on the other side of the
door. Needless to say, the
character who opens the
door is in for quite a
surprise.
“Pretty Bird. Pretty Bird.”
In the movie, Dumb and
Dumber, the character Pete
is blind, and he doesn’t
know that his bird is
decapitated.
4. Type of Satire
 Based on the object and often
the underlying message,
decide which type of satire
the creator is using.
 Named for the roman satirists,
Horace and Juvenal, it is
either:
Horatian or
Juvenalian
Horatian satire is playful and seeks to
correct vice and foolishness of society in
a gentle and sympathetic way.
If you can relate to what the satirist is
criticizing, it is probably Horatian.
Named for the Roman satirist
Quintus Horatius Flaccus
Known as Horace (65–8 B.C.E.)
Horatian Satire
Juvenalian satire is dark and biting. It
criticizes social injustice and corruption with
scorn and outrage.
If what is satirist is criticizing has nothing to
do with you, it’s probably Juvenalian.
Named for the Roman satirist,
Decimus Lunius Luvenalis
Known as Juvenal (2nd Century A.D.)
5. Enjoy the Humor
Pay attention to what
makes you laugh or what
sounds ridiculous and
absurd.
While not always funny,
satire calls attention to
something in our world
that needs to change.
• Animal Farm and 1984 satirize the dangers of communist and
totalitarian governments.
• SNL’s “Weekend Update,” The Jon Stewart Show, The Colbert
Report, Onion News Network satirize evening news programs.
• The Simpsons, South Park, Family Guy satirize popular culture,
family sitcoms, and children’s cartoons.
• The Office, Modern Family, Parks and Recreation satirize sitcoms
and documentary style shows (mocumentary).
• Reno 911 satirizes the reality show Cops.
• Monty Python and the Holy Grail satirizes the legends of King
Arthur, chivalry, medieval England, the Catholic Church and the
Grail quest.
What is the object of satire?
Gun laws, school safety, recent school
shootings.
What is the underlying message?
Based on the NRA’s proposal, schools will
be no different from prisons.
Explain type of irony.
Situational Irony—we expect schools to be
safer than prisons, but it turns out that
prisons are safer and better funded than
schools.
What type of satire is it?
Horatian, since school safety and gun rights
are concerns shared by many people.
What should the reader find humorous?
The satirist is implying that schools are
worse than prisons, and nowhere near safe.
Literary technique?
Juxtaposition
What is the object of satire?
The Leader of North Korea, Kim
Jung Un and his recent nuclear
threats against the US
What is the underlying message?
His threats are not to be taken
seriously. Appears to be whining
instead of threatening.
Explain type of irony.
Situational, because we expect Kim
Jung Un to have a good reason for
nuking the US—turns out it is just
Psy, who is really hungry.
What type of satire is it?
Juvenalian since it is criticizing Kim
Jung Un’s unjustified threats to nuke
the US.
What should the reader find humorous?
Mocks Snickers commercials, and Psy
Literary Technique?
Entrapment
What is the object of satire?
Former President George W. Bush
What is the underlying message?
Bush should be more concerned with
improving the economy and his legacy, not
his book sales.
Explain type of irony.
Situational because he wants the recession
to end… to help his book sales, not
because his administration caused it.
What type of satire is it?
Juvenalian since it is critical of Bush’s
handling of the economic meltdown.
What should the reader find humorous?
His only fans are Wal Mart Shoppers.
Literary Technique
Understatement
“Bush Hopes Recession Doesn't Affect
Sales Of His Memoirs”
http://www.theonion.com/articles/bush-hopes-recession-doesnt-affect-sales-of-his-me,6029/
What is the object of satire?
Working parents looking for affordable
childcare. Companies that will outsource
anything to save a few $$$
What is the underlying message?
If outsourcing babysitters sounds ridiculous
so does outsourcing manufacturing at the
cost of US jobs.
Explain type of irony.
Situational because a business method used
for manufacturing does not work for
“Many U.S. Parents Outsourcing
people—or childcare!
Child Care Overseas”
What type of satire is it?
Horatian since it is not serious at all, it is
playful and silly. However it does warn us
that as we seek to outsource more, this could
become a reality!
What should the reader find humorous?
The baby in the box of Styrofoam. “I had to
eat my own fingers.” Hyperbole—I Billion
times the average salary in India.
Literary Technique
Situational Irony, Incongruityhttp://www.theonion.com/video/report-many-us-parents-outsourcing-child-care-over,14146/
What is the object of satire?
Enhanced airport pat-down procedures.
What is the underlying message?
The full body scanners and the
enhanced pat-downs are invasive and
excessive.
Explain type of irony.
Situational—the viewer thinks the
commercial is about an 800-number,
but it is actually about the TSA security
features.
What type of satire is it?
Juvenalian—since it is overly critical of
TSA’s invasive security procedures.
What should the reader find humorous?
Viewers will find the contrast between
the beautiful women and the security
agents as humorous.
Literary Technique
Innuendo
"Feeling lonely this
holiday season?"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CrIeRN48Ck