1. Satire
Mr. Barazzuol English 12

2. What is satire?
In satire, human or individual vices, follies, abuses or shortcomings are held up to find fault with by means of ridicule, mockery, irony, or other methods, ideally with the intent to bring about improvement. Although satire is meant to be funny, the purpose of satire is not primarily humor in itself so much as an attack on something of which the author strongly disapproves, using the weapon of wit.
What? Paraphrase, please…

3. What is satire?
Satire: Making fun of some aspect of culture, society, and/or human nature to hopefully improve it or inspire change.

4. …Isn’t that comedy? Satire differs from comedy in that:
Satire seeks to correct, improve, or reform throughout ridicule
Comedy aims simply to amuse its audience
Satire uses laughter as a weapon against something that exists outside the work itself.

5. Formal (Direct) Satire
Two types of satire
Formal (Direct) Satire
The persona (speaker) uses first-person point of view
This speaker may address the reader or a character within the work
Example: “A Modest Proposal”
Indirect Satire
Some format other than direct address to the reader
This is usually a fictional narrative, in which objects of satire are characters
Example: Animal Farm

6. What are the three types of irony?
Devices of Satire
The chief device of satire is irony.
What are the three types of irony?

7. Devices of Satire Other Devices…
Parody: poking fun at something by mimicking or imitating it
Caricature: poking fun at a character by exaggerating its personal characteristics in drawing or narrative

8. Devices of Satire
Juxtaposition: the arrangement of two or more characters, ideas, or words side-by-side for the purpose of comparison, contrast, or character development
Sarcasm: taunting on a personal level by saying something and meaning the opposite

9. Devices of Satire
Innuendo: a derogatory suggestion that is not literally spoken but rather hinted at
Understatement: A figure of speech in which a writer or speaker deliberately makes a situation seem less important than it is

10. Analyzing Satire in 5 easy steps!
1. What's the tone of the satire?
(grim, cheerful, sardonic, mock serious, optimistic, etc.)
2. What type of satire is this?
(direct vs. indirect)
3. What is the writer satirizing?
(what aspect of society are they trying to criticize?)
4. What is the writer's purpose in satirizing this
subject?
(what do they want to change?)
5. What literary techniques does the writer use in
this satire?
(hyperbole, understatement, irony, humor, etc.)