1. Definition and Technique
Satire
Definition and Technique

2. Definition
A kind of writing designed to make readers feel critical—of themselves, of their fellow human beings or of their society
Some satires are intended to make us laugh at human foolishness and weakness
Others make us angry at human vices and crimes.

3. Satirists
Satirists are dissatisfied with the way things are, and they want to make them better.
Satirists perform an important function in society when they expose errors and absurdities that we no longer notice because custom and familiarity have blinded us to them.

4. Techniques Satirists use many techniques to get their point across
These include:
Exaggeration
Understatement
Parody
Appeals to logic (logos), emotions (pathos), and ethics (ethos)

5. Exaggeration
To represent something as larger or greater than it actually is
For example: overstatements such as
All teens are irresponsible
All politicians are corrupt
“You should have seen the size of the fish I caught. It weighed at least 50 pounds!”

6. Understatement
A figure of speech that consists of saying less than what is really meant or saying something with less force than is appropriate
For example:
Saying “It is a bit wet out there” after coming in from a torrential downpour

7. Irony
A contrast or discrepancy between expectations and reality—between what is said and what is really meant, between what is expected and what really happens, or between what appears to be true and what is really true.

8. Irony falls into 3 Categories
Verbal Irony:
When a writer or speaker says one thing but really means the opposite.
If you tell a friend who shows up an hour late for an appointment, “I just love being kept waiting in the rain,” you are using verbal irony.

9. Situational Irony
When what actually happens is the opposite of what is expected or appropriate.
For example: In The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy had the power to go home the whole time; the tin man was looking for a heart but had one all the time

10. Dramatic Irony
When the audience/reader knows something important that a character in a story does not know.
Can heighten a comic effect or generate suspense.
Ex: In Romeo and Juliet, we know that Juliet isn’t really dead, but Romeo doesn’t

11. Parody
Definition: An imitation of an artistic work for amusement or instruction
Ex: Weird Al songs, Scary Movie, Epic Movie
Austin Powers is a parody of what?

12. Appeals
Satirists appeal to readers’ sense of ethics, logic, and emotions

13. Appeal to Logic
Logos: the logic used to support a claim (induction and deduction); can also be the facts and statistics used to help support the argument
Satirists often support their position with evidence such as facts or statistics
For example:
According to the FBI, juveniles accounted for 17% of all arrests, while 15% of those arrests were considered violent crimes. Therefore, we should put all teens under house arrest.

14. Appeal to ethics
Ethos: the source's credibility, the speaker's/author's authority
Satirists often appeal to the audience’s sense of justice in society
For example:
You must act now! It’s the right thing to do!

15. Appeal to emotions
Pathos: the emotional or motivational appeals; vivid language, emotional language and numerous sensory details
Satirists sometimes use words that arouse strong feelings to persuade their audience.
For example:
Think of the children! Would you want your little, old grandma to have to be exposed to such a thing??!!

16. Examples
Satire: Will Ferrell as Ricky Bobby and Everything about The Daily Show and Colbert Report
Parody: Space Balls and Scary Movie
Qs to answer:
Who/what is being ridiculed?
Purpose/goal of satire/parody?
Message being sent?
Techniques or symbols used to convey message