For The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Unit Satire Terms For The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Unit

Satire a literary technique used to ridicule or make fun of human vice or weakness often with the intent of correcting or changing the subject of the attack

TYPES OF SATIRE Juvenalian Horatian

Juvenalian satire After the Roman satirist Juvenal Formal satire in which the speaker attacks vice and error with contempt and indignation  Juvenalian satire in its realism and its harshness is in strong contrast to Horatian satire.

Horation Satire After the Roman satirist Horace Satire in which the voice is indulgent, tolerant, amused, and witty.  The speaker holds up to gentle ridicule the absurdities and follies of human beings Aims at producing in the reader not the anger of a Juvenal, but a wry smile.

Elements of Satire Hyperbole Incongruity Reversal Parody Sarcasm Juxtaposition Irony Understatement Double Entendre

Hyperbole To over exaggerate the situation beyond its normal bounds, so it becomes ridiculous Enlarge or increase size as well Example: “I’m starving. I could eat a horse.”

Incongruity To present things that are out of place or are absurd in relation to its surroundings. Example: Princess Fiona uses ponytail to knock out Merry Men, pauses mid-flight to fix her hair.

reversal To present the opposite of the normal order e.g. the order of events, hierarchical order Example: Fiona saves Shrek (women are supposed to be damsels, not men)

parody To imitate the techniques and/or style of some person, place, or thing. Robin Williams doing impressions Dressing up at President Bush and talking like him

sarcasm is stating the opposite of an intended meaning especially in order to sneeringly, slyly, jest or mock a person, situation or thing Example: “That’s cool.” (when you actually hate it) Talking about how much you think a candidate is doing a good job in a mocking tone Oscar Wilde wrote, “I am not young enough to know everything.”

juxtaposition an act or instance of placing close together or side by side, esp. for comparison or contrast. Example: Humanitarians— Brittney Spears and Mother Teresa

irony the use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning the irony of her reply, “How nice!” when I said I had to work all weekend. Sideshow Bob, “I'm aware of the irony of appearing on TV in order to decry it." 

Double entendre A play on words a word or expression capable of two interpretations with one usually risqué Iraqi Head Seeks Arms Plane Too Close to Ground, Crash Probe Told Saying in response, “That’s what she said.”

Understatement is used to make something appear smaller or less important than it really is. It can be used to entertain or to reduce the importance of the truth. Example: “It’s just a flesh wound.” (Black Knight in Holy Grail when his arm has fallen off)