1. What is Satire? Satire is criticism, ridicule. It may use humor & wit
Or bitter, dark irony.
*Not all “comedies” are satiric:
in satire, All comic devices are used in order to criticize

2. Characteristics of Satire:
It emphasizes what seems real, but isn’t.
It pretends to be factual, but instead contains exaggerations, distortions, or understatements
Satire is motivated by a sense that humans are flawed, so it will often focus on the weaknesses in humans, like greed, foolishness, gluttony…

3. 4 Satiric Techniques:
Exaggeration: Enlarging, increasing, or representing something beyond normal bounds so that it becomes ridiculous and its faults can be seen.
Incongruity :Presenting things that are out of place or are absurd in relation to their surroundings.
Reversal :Presenting the opposite of the normal order (i.e. the order of events, the hierarchical order).
Parody : Imitating the techniques and/or style of some person, place, or thing.

4. Popular “Targets” for Satire
Immorality
Excessive morality
Hypocrisy
Naiveté
Incompetence
Idealism
Political Corruption
Greed

5. Purposes for Satire
To convince an audience to accept unpleasant truths, ones which the audience may believe do not exist
To take apart, and force people to examine, their perspectives
To show “old” or ordinary things in a “new” way
To create a shocked realization in viewers that the values and truths they unquestioningly accept might be false or illogical