1. Satire Laughter as a Weapon p. 584

2. Satire A literary technique in which behaviors or institutions are ridiculed for the purpose of improving society Uses irony and exaggeration to make fun of human faults and foolishness Humor instead of direct attack

3. Bring About Change Satirists try to bring about change by exposing an oddity or a problem in an imaginative, often humorous way Target is often political or social Ex: The Onion (newspaper) Ex: Political Cartoons/Comic Strips Ex: The Simpsons/South Park etc.

4. Historical Perspective Two types of satire: Horatian satire (Horace) Playfully amusing; gentle Juvenalian satire (Juvenal) Darker; more critical; meant to criticize

5. Historical Perspective “Golden Age” of satire (17 th – 18 th century) Dryden, Pope, Swift and Samuel Johnson Purpose was to attack hypocrisy, arrogance, greed, vanity, and stupidity

6. Satire Since 1800 Faded in 19 th century Resurged in 20 th century 20 th century has been Juvenalian in nature Books: George Orwell’s Animal Farm (1945), 1984 (1949) Dr. Seuss Television: The Simpsons Saturday Night Live

7. Jonathan Swift Has been called the greatest satirist in the English language Born in Dublin to English parents Received the best education possible for the time

8. Satire and Politics – Swift’s Time The Battle of the Books (1704) The Tale of a Tub (1704) Criticized modern thinkers and scientists, religious abuses, arrogance, phoniness, and shallowness Swift stood for justice, order, moral rectitude (decency) and rational thought

9. Irish Politics After leaving London (around 1714) Swift returned to Ireland to act as dean of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin Between the 15 th and 18 th century England took political control of Ireland – basically allowing Ireland to sink deeper into bankruptcy

10. Irish Politics Catholics could not vote, get an education or own property Swift wrote out against these practices, criticizing his homeland of England