An Introduction to Satire

What IS Satire?   Satire is a technique that is used to ridicule people and their institutions in an effort to expose the weaknesses and evils of both human behavior and of society.

What IS Satire? Satire is a WEAPON It usually states or implies some standard for ideal human behavior. The author hopes, because of his satire, that people will look at themselves and the issue in a new light and change their foolish ways.

What IS Satire? The PURPOSE of satire can be … to bring about change to simply amuse the reader to attack the vices (faults) and follies (foolishness) the satirist sees in human behavior.

Subject Matter for Satire Satire may deal with minor issues, such as junk mail on our computers, or major problems, such as pollution on our planet or overpopulation on our planet. Anything or anyone can become the target of satire: exploitative, powerful individuals and institutions; social views of a group of people; hypocrisy; politics; government; corruption; religion. Satirical pieces are usually short, funny, and entertaining; and they are always critical and unfair.

How do writers CREATE satire? Frequent devices or techniques for creating satire in a piece of literature, both in fiction and non-fiction include … Exaggeration: (hyperbole or overstatement) enlarging or overstating beyond the truth. Example: In an article entitled “How to Eat an Ice Cream Cone,” the author describes a drop of ice cream like this: “Melted ice cream is a fluid which is eternally sticky. One drop of it on a car-door handle spreads to the seat covers, to trousers, and then to hands, and then to the steering wheel, the rearview mirror, all the knobs of the dash-board – spreads everywhere and lasts forever, in secret ways that even scientists don’t understand.”

How do writers CREATE satire? Distortion: out of normal parameters, to change from its real image Understatement (litotes—LIE-tuh-tees): involves deliberately weakening an otherwise positive statement, substituting, for example, “He’s pretty economical” for “He’s a perfect miser.” Another example: Author Mark Twain created a secretary who, after a disastrous conflict with his employer, says, “I judged it best to resign,” to which we might reply, “That is an understatement.”

How do writers CREATE satire? Irony (any of the three kinds): situational, dramatic, and verbal. Humorous contrasts Surprise Always, always humor…even if it is a bitter humor

Satiric cartoons are usually easy to interpret, but when satire takes the form of fictional stories and non- fiction articles, the reader must frequently make inferences in order to identify the author’s satiric tone and to understand the point the author is making.

Formats for Satire A satirist can choose from several different FORMATS when he wants to write a satirical piece of literature:   MOCK EPIC: a humorous, tongue-in-cheek story depicting an absurd hero’s adventures and glorious deeds. PARODY: a comical imitation of an author’s or artist’s style. (Scary Movie is a parody of what?)

Formats for Satire CARICATURE: a picture or verbal description which ridiculously exaggerates the features and characteristics of the person or thing depicted, but which keeps the subject’s identity and likeness intact. ALLEGORY: a literary work in which the characters and setting make reference to actual people, places, and events in history; in addition, references are made to the philosophical concepts and moral qualities associated with the historical reference as well.

Formats for Satire Poems Cartoons Song lyrics Newspaper articles   Poems Cartoons Song lyrics Newspaper articles Play scripts Novels TV shows Movies

KEY QUESTIONS IN EVALUATING A SATIRICAL PIECE OF LITERATURE OR A SATIRICAL CARTOON 1. What are the targets of the satire? 2. What are the messages of the satire? 3. What is the tone of the satire? – gentle, amusing, scornful, contemptuous, etc. 4. What satirical techniques are used and explain how they are used? Exaggeration Distortion Understatement Irony (which kind?) Humorous contrasts Surprise

Key Questions, cont. 5. Is a solution to the problem implied in the satire? If so, what solution is suggested? 6. What format did the satirist choose? (i.e., cartoon, newspaper article, parody, caricature, allegory, beast fable, essay, poem, song lyrics, TV show, movie, etc.) Is this form effective for getting his message across? Why or why not? 7. How does the satirist stack the deck in his own favor? What extenuating details or circumstances favorable to his target does he conveniently omit? 8. Does the satirist’s message convince you? Does the satire make you laugh? Why or why not?