Satire

Satire Derived from the Latin satura, which means “full” or “a dish of mixed fruits” A text or performance that uses irony, derision, or wit to expose or attack human vice, foolishness, or stupidity. Verb: satirize. Adjective: satiric or satirical.

"Satire is a sort of glass, wherein beholders do generally discover everybody's face but their own, which is the chief reason for that kind of reception it meets in the world, and that so very few are offended with it." (Jonathan Swift, preface to The Battle of the Books, 1704)

Two Types of Satire Horatian satire is:  tolerant, witty, wise and self-effacing “Tells the truth pleasantly so that he will not turn people away but rather cure them of that ignorance” Evil is a disease that can be cured and those who cannot be cured are offered as an example of folly Purpose: correct man’s problems

Juvenalian satire is: angry, caustic, resentful, personal, misanthropic “Believes that wickedness and evil will triumph in the world” Life is not comic but contemptible. Purpose: punish man for his transgressions

Characteristics of Satire Topical Claims to be realistic, even if hyperbolic Shocking Informal in tone and manner Funny

Satiric Devices

Humor exaggeration: the formalized walk of Charlie Chaplin, the facial and body contortions of Jim Carrey understatement: Fielding’s description of a grossly fat and repulsively ugly Mrs. Slipslop: “She was not remarkably handsome.” incongruity deflation: the English professor mispronounces a word, the President slips and bangs his head leaving the helicopter, etc. linguistic games: malapropisms, weird rhymes, etc. surprise: twist endings, unexpected events

Irony Literary device in which there is an incongruity or discordance between what one says or does, and what one means or what is generally understood.

Mock Encomium praise which is only apparent and which suggests blame instead

Grotesque creating a tension between laughter and horror or revulsion; the essence of all “sick humor: or “black humor”

Invective name calling, personal abuse, etc

Comic Juxtaposition linking together with no commentary items which normally do not go together; Pope’s line in Rape of the Lock: “Puffs, patches, bibles, and billet-doux”

Mock Epic/Mock Heroic using elevated diction and devices from the epic or the heroic to deal with low or trivial subjects

Parody mimicking the style and/or techniques of something or someone else

Inflation taking a real-life situation and blowing it out of proportion to make it ridiculous and showcase its faults

Diminution taking a real-life situation and reducing it to make it ridiculous and showcase its faults

Three Main Forms Monologue: satirist is speaking as himself or from behind an assumed mask or persona, addresses the audience directly, states his view of the problem, provides examples, criticizes opponents, and tries to make his views ours (similar to a traditional argument) Example: “A Modest Proposal”

Parody: the satirist takes an existing work of literature which was created with a serious purpose or literary form and makes the work look ridiculous, filling it with incongruous ideas or exaggerating its features Example: Monty Python and the Holy Grail Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels is a parody of travel journals of the 18th century.

Narratives: the satirist does not assume a narrative voice as he does in the monologue; they may be stories or dramatic fiction. Example: Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels; Voltaire’s Candide

“A Modest Proposal” By Jonathan Swift

Persona How does Swift want the reader to view the speaker? What features best describe the “persona” he adopts?

Diction Note Swift’s diction in the opening paragraphs. Identify examples of quantification and dehumanization. Explain their purpose.

Strategy Swift’s speaker explains the anticipated results before revealing the actual proposal. Explain the rhetorical purpose of such a strategy.

Assumptions What are some assumptions underlying paragraph 7?

Appeals For each of the classic appeals (ethos, logos, and pathos) indicate two examples from the first eight paragraphs. Which one is the speaker’s primary appeal?

Qualifiers Read paragraph 9 carefully. Explain the purpose and effect of the qualifiers there.

Diction Taking careful note of the diction of paragraph 12, with words such as “dear” and “devoured,” explain the rhetorical strategy at work.

Appeals ..\Rhetoric\Logos.doc

Motivational appeals Indicate Swift’s motivational appeals, specifically to thrift, economy, and patriotism. Explain the rhetorical strategy behind such appeals.

Rhetorical Strategy Consider the additional proposal mentioned in paragraph 17. Explain the rhetorical strategy at work in that paragraph.

Counterargument Identify a counterargument that the speaker anticipates in paragraph 19.

Rhetorical strategy Explain what Swift suggests as “expedients” in paragraphs 29-31 and explain the rhetorical strategy at work.

Break from ironic voice The very end of paragraphs 31-31 may be seen as breaks from Swift’s ironic voice. Explain how that may be the case, and identify one other place where Swift breaks through that of his persona.