1. A brief overview Creative writing
Satire
A brief overview
Creative writing

2. What is satire?
Satire is a style of rhetoric that exposes vices and foolishness in people and society
generally uses humor, irony, sarcasm, and other techniques to get an emotional reaction from the audience
often aims to create political or social change
Here are a few techniques that may be used in satire…….

3. Elements of Satire Hyperbole Also called exaggeration
In satire, hyperbole is used to make an idea or situation seem ridiculous by taking it to the extreme
Examples: Google opt-out -
“I had to wait in the station for ten days– an eternity.”
(Conrad, Heart of Darkness)
Ten days is by no means an eternity, forever, but it felt like it.

4. Elements of Satire Parody Imitating someone for comedic effect
Often includes the use of other techniques (hyperbole, irony, etc.)
Example: Saturday Night Live skits
parody.html

5. Elements of Satire Irony
Using words in a way that conveys the opposite of their literal meaning
Can be used to show difference between appearance and reality
Example: Star Trek reviews -
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

6. Irony
When a text intended to be ironic does not seen as such, the effect can be disastrous.
To be an effective piece of sustained irony, there must be some sort of audience tip-off, through style, tone, use of clear exaggeration, or other device.

7. Irony
Irony is a mode of expression, through words (verbal irony) or events (irony of situation), conveying a reality different from and usually opposite to appearance or expectation.
The surprise recognition by the audience often produces a comic effect, making irony often funny.

8. Irony

9. Elements of Satire Sarcasm Like irony, but more “mean”
Usually used to mock a person, situation, or idea
Example: Stephen Colbert -

10. Elements of Satire Understatement
Like hyperbole, this is a type of exaggeration
Can be used to make a situation or idea seem less important than it really is
Example: “Just right” -
“Deserts are sometimes hot, dry and sandy” while describing deserts of the world.
“He is not too thin” while describing an obese person.
“It rained a bit more than usual” while describing an area being flooded after heavy rainfall.

11. Elements of Satire Invective
harsh, abusive language directed against a person or cause. Invective is a vehicle for anger and bitterness. It is the bitterest of all satires.
“I cannot but conclude the bulk of your natives to be the most pernicious race of little odious vermin that nature ever suffered to crawl upon the surface of the earth.” (Swift, Gulliver’s Travels)
“He's so dumb, he doesn't know he's alive.” (Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby)

12. Elements of Satire Inversion/Reversal
Presenting the opposite of the normal order
Order of events, such as serving dessert before the main course
Or hierarchal order
young child makes all the decisions for a family
administrative assistant dictates what the company president decides and does
Makes the audience think about what they consider “normal,” and why
Example: Marriage ban -

13. Elements of Satire
For additional explanation and examples of Satire and literary terms, go here

14. Potential Problems with Satire
Misunderstanding: Audience may think the satirist is being serious
Misuse: People hide behind the idea of satire to get away with saying really stupid and cruel things
Missing the Point: Too much satire can distract the audience from the “real” message

15. When analyzing satire, consider…
Subject: What is the main idea?
Occasion: What current event/trend is the author reacting to?
Audience: What person/group is the satire targeting?

16. Purpose: What is the “real” message behind the satire?
Speaker: How does the author create credibility? Why should we trust this person?