1. Satire
Noun. A literary manner which blends humor with criticism in order to make people think and/or improve humanity

2. The necessary ingredients
Humor
Criticism of humanity, human nature, an individual, or group.
Some kind of moral voice: simple mocking, insult, and sarcasm are not “satire.”

3. The Satiric Tone
Light: good natured criticism, good humor and use of laughter/comedy
Dark: bitter, cynical, more dark, serious, and somber in tone

4. Some tools of the satirist
Indirect Satire
Pun
Parody
Exaggeration
Utopia
Dystopia

5. Pun
A play on words that are identical/similar in sound but have very different meanings.
Example:
“No, I’m not alright! I’m half left.”
“Police were called to a daycare where a three-year-old was resisting a rest.”

6. Parody = a work of literature that mimics another work of literature or art, usually as a way of criticizing it.
Young Frankenstein
Austin Powers
Gulliver’s Travels
Shrek

7. Exaggeration = Showing something as greater, larger, worse, or better than it actually is, usually to show how important or unimportant it actually is.
** Spinal Tap exaggerates the world of rock and roll ** Best in Show exaggerates the world of dog shows

8. Utopia = A criticism of our world through comparison to a perfect world.
Star Trek’s Federation
Avatar’s Pandora

9. Dystopia = A criticism of society where in trying to make a perfect world, a terrible world is created.
George Orwell’s Animal Farm
Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451
* Both Dystopianism and Utopianism use contrast to make point.

10. After reading “Harrison Bergeron”, you will be asked to identify satirical elements in the short story, so pay attention!