1. “Harrison Bergeron” Kurt Vonnegut
Satire
“Harrison Bergeron”
Kurt Vonnegut

2. Definition
What is Satire?

3. Definition
Satire—any kind of writing, speaking, or art that ridicules some weakness in individuals or society.

4. Vehicles of Satire
Art
Music
Poetry/Prose
Drama/TV
Cartoons

5. Brainstorming
Create a list of some elements of our society (political or social) that may be or have been satirized:

6. Music Weird Al Yankovic
“You’re Pitiful” satirizes the song “You’re Beautiful” by James Blunt

7. Prose
George Orwell

8. Television
Saturday Night Live

9. Cartoon

10. Stylistic Devices of Satire
Hyperbole: A figure of speech that uses exaggeration to emphasize strong feelings or to create a satiric effect
Understatement: The technique of creating emphasis by saying less than what is actually or literally true
Sarcasm: a type of verbal irony often in the form of a remark in which the literal meaning is complimentary but the actual meaning is critical
Verbal Irony: words of praise which convey criticism and words of criticism which convey praise

11. “Harrison Bergeron” Quickwrite:
Think about the pressure you or students in your school might feel to be “the same”—to act, think, or dress the same way others do. Do you think the pressure to be the same comes from outside forces or from personal desires? Do you think being the same makes most people happy, or would they really prefer to act on their own? Jot down your thoughts.

12. History of Satire Started in ancient Greece
Roman Empire- Horace and Juvenal:
criticized Roman’s decadence.
“Golden Age”- 17th and 18th century-
Jonathan Swift
19th century- went into decline besides
some exceptions like Mark Twain

13. Characteristics of Satire
Attempts to bring about change through
humor
Often targets social or political
institutions
Uses irony and exaggeration
Typically attacks hypocrisy, arrogance,
greed, vanity, etc.

14. Types of Satire Horatian Satire- playful and
gentle humor. Ex- The Rape of
the Lock
Juvenalian Satire- Dark, bitter,
scornful
Ex- Jonathan Swift