Satire A brief overview

What is satire? Satire is a style of rhetoric that exposes vices and foolishness in people and society Satire generally uses humor, irony, sarcasm, and other techniques to get an emotional reaction from the audience Satire often aims to create political or social change Here are a few techniques that may be used in satire…….

Elements of Satire Hyperbole Also called exaggeration In satire, hyperbole is used to make an idea or situation seem ridiculous by taking it to the extreme

Elements of Satire Reversal Presenting the opposite of what people are used to experiencing Makes the audience think about what they consider “normal,” and why

Elements of Satire Parody Imitating someone for comedic effect Often includes the use of other techniques (hyperbole, irony, etc.)

Elements of Satire Incongruity Putting things together that normally wouldn’t go together This can be used to make ordinary things seem ridiculous

Elements of Satire Irony Using words in a way that conveys the opposite of their literal meaning Can be used to show difference between appearance and reality

Elements of Satire Sarcasm Like irony, but more “mean” Usually used to mock a person, situation, or idea

Elements of Satire Understatement Like hyperbole, this is a type of exaggeration Can be used to make a situation or idea seem less important than it really is

Potential Problems with Satire Misunderstanding: Audience may think the satirist is being serious Misuse: People hide behind the idea of satire to get away with saying really stupid and cruel things Missing the Point: Too much satire can distract the audience from the “real” message

When analyzing satire, consider… Subject: What is the main idea? Occasion: What current event/trend is the author reacting to? Audience: What person/group is the satire targeting?

When Analyzing Satire Consider… Purpose: What is the “real” message behind the satire? Speaker: How does the author create credibility? Why should we trust this person?