LOOK
IT
UP!
• 1. Using your smart
phone, or partnering
with someone near
you who has one,
look up the word
Satire.
•
•
2. Once you have
found a definition- put
it into your own
words.
3. You will be asked
to share your
What is satire?
• Noun. A literary manner which blends humor
with criticism for the purpose of instruction or the
improvement of humanity.
What is Satire?
• Art of using
common symbols
and ideas in a
new context to try
and provoke an
argument
What is Satire?
• Use of
familiar
situations to
mock
something
What is Satire?
• Using visual
techniques to
create an
opinionated
piece of work
that shows
criticism
What is Satire?
• Using ridicule to expose vice or folly
Satire
• Seeks to correct,
improve, or reform
through ridicule, while
comedy aims simply
to amuse. It differs
from invective, direct
denunciation or namecalling, and mere
insult in the sharp wit
of its presentation.
This is not satire ►
Satire is. . .
• One of the oldest forms of literature and
one of the most durable
• A constructive art that seeks not merely to
destroy but to rebuild; aim is to inspire
reform
humor + criticism = inspired reform
TAKE NOTE:
Satire ≠ Sarcasm
SATIRE – blend of criticism and
humor for the purposes of
CORRECTION OR IMPROVEMENT
SARCASM– simple abuse consisting
of a series of insults
Read Aloud
•
•
Satire example: The Bill of Rights for
High School Students
Use this article to practice finding the
answers to the 4 Golden Questions of
Satire that I am about to introduce.
Four Golden Satire Questions
What institutions, practices, and/or
groups are being satirized?
What method(s) does the author employ
in constructing his satire?
What is the tone of the satire?
Who is your audience?
What institutions, institutions, practices,
and/or groups are being satirized?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
A group or organization
Individuals
A “sort” or type of person
A social class
A prevailing philosophy
Social manners
Modern progress
Mankind’s foibles
What method(s) does the author
employ in constructing her satire?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Caricature
Criticism
Humor
Hyperbole
Understatement
Absurdity
Irony
Sarcasm
Parody
Concession
Satiric Device #1
• Caricature: An exaggerated portrayal of the
weaknesses, frailties, or humorous aspects of
an individual or group.
Satiric Device #2
• Criticism
Satiric Device #3
• Humor
Satiric Device #4
• Hyperbole:
distorting by
using
exaggerated
language
Satiric Device #5
• Understatement: makes less of
something to distort it
Satiric Device #6
• Absurdity: reduces something to the
ridiculous
Satiric Device #7
• Irony: Irony is an implied discrepancy between what is
said and what is meant.
Three kinds of irony:
– verbal irony is when an author says one thing and means something
else. **Satirists rely heavily on verbal irony.
– dramatic irony is when an audience perceives something that a
character in the literature does not know.
– irony of situation is a discrepency between the expected result and
actual results.
Satiric Device #8
• Sarcasm: personal taunts
Satiric Devices
• Parody: Imitates the serious material and manner
of a particular work, genre, or style in an amusing way.
Mimicking designed to ridicule.
Satiric Devices
Concession:
acknowledging
other
viewpoints
You may
be right.
What is the tone of the
satire?
• Horatian –gentle, amused, mildly corrective
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Cheerful
Urbane
Tongue--in—cheek
Optimistic
Warm
Witty
Gentle
Chiding
What is the tone of the
satire?
• Juvenalian – harsh, biting, bitter, and full of
moral indignation and contempt
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Cutting
Bitter
Angry
Contemptuous
Grim
Sardonic
Harsh
Indignant
Satire and POV
• Often employs a special kind of narrator called a
mask or persona
• This is the character through whom the action is
observed or related
• NOT NORMALLY TO BE CONSTRUED AS THE
AUTHOR’S VOICE
• Often has the presence of a character that
serves as the “norm” or the standard against
which we measure the other characters
Know Your Audience
• It’s important that
people understand that
the intent is satire
• It’s important that
people understand it’s
not a malicious attack
• It’s important to keep in
mind your audience’s
religious, cultural,
socioeconomic, racial,
political, etc. viewpoints
Know Your Audience
This cover drew a lot of criticism
because people didn’t
understand that it was satire.
Ironically, this had the opposite
effect from what was intended.
It actually reinforced some
people’s concerns about the
then presidential candidate and
his wife.
Goal of satire – to bring about change. Satirists are
optimists because they believe in the power of people
to change themselves and the world for the better.
REMEMBER: Good satire is accessible to both those
familiar with the target and those who aren't, because it both
builds on a deep knowledge of the target and relies on
original material for humor. It often takes considerable effort
on its author's part, but rewards its readers richly.
Independent Practice
•
On the Book - Butter Battles - answer the
Golden Questions of Satire. I will show
the slides. Work in your group to answer
each question as you refer to the slides
as needed.
What institutions, institutions, practices,
and/or groups are being satirized?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
A group or organization
Individuals
A “sort” or type of person
A social class
A prevailing philosophy
Social manners
Modern progress
Mankind’s foibles
What method(s) does the author
employ in constructing her satire?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Caricature
Criticism
Humor
Hyperbole
Understatement
Absurdity
Irony
Sarcasm
Parody
Concession
What is the tone of the
satire?
• Horatian –gentle, amused, mildly corrective
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Cheerful
Urbane
Tongue--in—cheek
Optimistic
Warm
Witty
Gentle
Chiding
What is the tone of the
satire?
• Juvenalian – harsh, biting, bitter, and full of
moral indignation and contempt
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Cutting
Bitter
Angry
Contemptuous
Grim
Sardonic
Harsh
Indignant
Know Your Audience
• It’s important that
people understand that
the intent is satire
• It’s important that
people understand it’s
not a malicious attack
• It’s important to keep in
mind your audience’s
religious, cultural,
socioeconomic, racial,
political, etc. viewpoints