Jump Start Assignment Read “A Modest Proposal” Respond in your journal: What is the problem Swift is addressing? What is his solution? Do you agree with his compromise? Why or why not?
Satire “A work or manner that blends a censorious attitude with humor and wit for improving human institutions or humanity.” -Harmon and Holman Today, forms of satire can be literary (books, essays, stories, i.e. the printed word), but also cartoons, songs, and the performing arts.
Examples of Satire The Simpsons: I Heart Huckabees
Social Commentary Social Change
Satire uses irony: the recognition of a reality different than appearance. Verbal Irony: the actual intent of words is the opposite of overt meaning Situational Irony: Because of the context of an event the event is the opposite of what would be expected. Dramatic Irony: inherent in speeches or a situation but not grasped by characters in the play
Juvenalian Satire Named after Roman satirist Juvenal Contemptuous and abrasive Addresses social evil through scorn, outrage, and savage ridicule Pessimistic and sarcastic
Juvenalian Satire, Continued. “All animals are equal but some are more equal than others.” Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis 1984 and Animal Farm by George Orwell A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift Catch 22 by Joseph Heller Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Horatian Gentle, mild, and light-hearted humor Directs wit, exaggeration, self- deprecating humor toward what it identifies as “folly”, rather than evil Folly = foolish, lacking common sense The Simpsons by Matt Groening Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
Exaggeration Enlarge, increase, or represent something beyond normal bounds so it becomes ridiculous Caricature is an exaggeration of physical features/traits Cartoons commonly use exaggeration
Incongruity To present things that are out of place or are absurd in relation to its surroundings. Particular techniques include oxymoron, metaphor, and irony.
Parody (Spoof, take-off, burlesque) Imitation of techniques and/or style of some person, place, or thing in order to ridicule the original. Use wit to imitate style of a work/individual Must know original text that is being ridiculed in order for parody to be successful.
Example of Parody Mumford and Sons
What makes satire satire? Social commentary. That is, the writer ridicules or pokes fun at certain aspects of society he or she finds repugnant in hopes of changing it. Targets? The Usual Suspects. Vanity, hypocrisy, religion, bigotry, human vices, sentimentality, greed, celebrity worship, materialism, hubris, dumbing down of education, snobbery, foolishness, cruelty, insensitivity, laziness.
Advantages of Satire Most miss author’s true intent; therefore, censors don’t “get it” and author stays out of prison Nice change from “preachiness” of other approaches to reform “Stealth” weapon useful when taking an unpopular stance in repressive society Short and punchy
“We Just Fooled The Chinese Gov’t” korea-china-onion/index.html korea-china-onion/index.html
Identify the Style of Satire
Jonathan Swift: Famous Satirist Politically active writer in England and Ireland Exiled to Ireland after offending the Queen with one of his publications advising her which bedchamber ladies she could trust Author of Gulliver’s Travels, known as one of the greatest and most sophisticated works of satire