“Do Now!” What is humorous about this picture? How might it relate to satire? Text

Today’s Objective To learn about the basic elements and techniques of satire as a foundation for understanding Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

What is Satire ?

“the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues.” New Oxford American Dictionary Satire is

Purpose To expose T0 educate The reform society & institutions To improve behaviors

Purpose What do you need to know to understand and appreciate satire? CONTEXT The culture of the times (the present or the past) The events and/or history of the period (the present or the past)

Audiences The sophisticated reader -- those already in agreement with the author’s opinion. The target audience -- those ridiculed for their behavior or opposing viewpoint The “swing audience” -- those who may be persuaded by the work

Targets a specific individual, a type of person, a larger group of people, even all of humanity.

Exaggeration & Distortion Irony Parody Burlesque Physical Humor Hyperbole & Understatement Direct Verbal Assault

Irony A contradiction of expectation between what is said and what is meant or an incongruity between what might be expected and what actually occurs.

Irony Dramatic or Tragic irony Situational irony Verbal irony Risk -- can deteriorate into Sarcasm

Verbal Irony A contradiction of expectation between what is said and what is meant Verbal irony is implied and refers to spoken words only

Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare "Yet Brutus says he was ambitious; And Brutus is an honorable man". Mark Antony really means that Brutus is dishonorable

Dramatic Irony “The full significance of a character's words or actions are clear to the audience or reader although unknown to the character.” New Oxford American Dictionary

Dramatic Irony In Macbeth by Shakespeare, Macbeth plans the murder of Duncan while hosting him in his home and claiming loyalty. Duncan does not know of Macbeth’s plans, but the audience does.

Situational Irony A contradiction between what might be expected and what actually occurs.

Parody “An imitation of the style of a particular writer, artist, or genre with deliberate exaggeration for comic effect. ” New Oxford American Dictionary

Parody

Burlesque A ludicrous and distorted imitation A travesty (or caricature)

Presents a solemn subject in an undignified style, or Amplifies the dignity and importance of an insignificant or inconsequential subject

Burlesque of a Dignifi ed Subjec t

Burlesque -- Amplifying the insignificant

Physical Humor Ridiculous and humiliating action -- such as a pratfall

Physi cal Hum or

Hyperbole “I've told you a million times not to exaggerate.”

Hyperb ole or Extrem e Distortio n

Understate ment "I have to have this operation.... It isn't very serious. I have this tiny little tumor on the brain." (Holden Caulfield in The Catcher In The Rye, by J. D. Salinger)

Direct Verbal Assault Col. Sherburn’s speech to the mob in Chapter 22: “The idea of you lynching anybody! It’s amusing. The idea of you thinking you had pluck enough to lynch a man! [...] Now leave -- and take your half-a-man with you” Mark Twain- Adventures of Huckleberry Finn pp

Risks Satire can Backfire!

offending the audience misinterpretation by unsophisticated readers. misses the mark by being too subtle or too broad

One can deliver a satire with telling force through the insidious medium of a travesty, if he is careful not to overwhelm the satire with the extraneous interest of the travesty. Mark Twain "A Couple of Sad Experiences," Galaxy Magazine, June 1870A Couple of Sad Experiences

What do you see in this picture?

Contemporary Satire