Happy Tuesday!

Today we will be discussing satire and taking notes.

You may take notes on loose paper or leave the paper in your notebook—whatever will help you keep track better.

You will be tested on this material on Monday, May 13.

Satire

Please take thorough notes.

You will have a summative test on this material on

Monday, May 13

NO RETAKES!

Satire Definition

A literary technique using humor to make fun of the

vices of society…

…for the purpose of CHANGE.

What is Satire?

Satire is a weapon used

– to ridicule

– to attack the vices and follies they see in human behavior.

Usually states or implies some idea of what should be the correct behavior or thought.

Goal of satire: self-examination and change foolish ways.

Questions for Satire

What does the satire ridicule? What are its targets?

What does the satire suggest is preferableto whatever is criticized?

What techniques does the satirist use to convey his or her ridicule?

To what extent is the satirist justified in attacking his target?

How successful is the satire?

Distance from Satirical Target

To be effective, writers or performers must have a detachment from their target.

Henry Rule confessed, ―In truth I don’t ever seem to be in a good enough humor with anything to satirize it; no, I want to stand up before it and curse it, and foam at the mouth—or take a club and pound it to rags and pulp‖ (Nilsen & Nilsen 259).

Satire vs. Gallows Humor Satirists may use their humor to inspire

reform and change, or they may use it to promote the status quo.

Satire MUST HAVE A TARGET– If the creators of satire don’t have a reform or

a solution in mind but are simply holding up an aspect of the world as ridiculous, then they are creating irony or gallows humor rather than satire.

– Gallows Humor? Humor from stressful situations, i.e., death at the gallows.

Two types of Satire:

Juvenalian Satire:

– Dark, bitter, criticizing

– Author stands apart— ―YOU are doing this to ME‖

Horatian Satire:

– Playful, gentle, sympathetic

– Author includes self in group being criticized–―We all have this vice, and we should all try to do better.‖

Elements of Satire

A common type of satire is a parody.

A Parody is a form of satire that imitates another work in order to ridicule it.

Example: The Colbert Report is a parody, because it imitates other talk shows in order to make fun of them.

Elements of Satire

Irony: a gap or incongruity between what a speaker or a writer says, and what is understood, or between what one might reasonably expect, and what happens.

―Ten thousand spoons when all you need is a knife‖ = not ironic.

Not being able to find a knife in a knife factory = ironic.

Elements of Satire

Sarcasm is sneering, jesting, or mocking a person, situation or thing.

Elements of Satire

Understatement is a form of speech where a lesser expression is used than what would be expected

For example, in Monty Python's The Meaning of Life, an Army officer has just lost his leg. Asked how he feels, he looks down at his bloody stump and says, "Stings a bit."

Elements of Satire

Exaggeration or hyperbole

―I jumped 100 feet in the air‖

Elements of SatireCaricature: A humorous description or illustration that exaggerates or distorts the basic essence of a person or thing to create an easily identifiable likeness.

Elements of Satire

Reversal

Presents the opposite of the normal order…

– Order of events or expectation

Dessert first, then main course.

The princess saving Prince Charming

– Hierarchal order

When a child runs the household and the parent is treated like a child.

Elements of Satire

Reductio Ad Absurdum

(Reduction to Absurdity)

Author pretends to wholeheartedly agree with the ideas being criticized, then takes those ideas to a ridiculous logical extreme in order to point out how ridiculous the original ideas are.

Practice Time!

I’m going to put up a slide of terms and definitions. See if you can match them.

Write down your answers in your notes.

A. Sarcasm

B. Irony

C. Satire

D. Caricature

E. Understate-ment

1. A humorous description or illustration that exaggerates or distorts the basic essence of a person or thing to create an easily identifiable likeness.

2. A form of speech where a lesser expression is used than what would be expected

3. Sneering, jesting, or mocking a person, situation or thing.

4. A literary technique using humor to make fun of the vices of society for the purpose of change.

5. A gap or incongruity between what a speaker or a writer says, and what is understood, or between what one might reasonably expect, and what happens.

A. Reductio ad Absurdum

B. Parody

C. HoratianSatire

D.Reversal

E. JuvenalianSatire

F. Hyperbole

1. A type of satire that is gentle and understanding, in which the author includes himself in the group being criticized.

2. A technique in which the author uses a statement claiming more than is possible, or more than could have really happened.

3. A form of satire that imitates another work in order to ridicule it.

4. A technique in which the author presents ideas or concepts in the opposite of the usual order.

5. A type of satire that is dark, bitter, and critical, in which the author stands apart from the group being criticized.

6. A technique in which the author pretends to wholeheartedly agree with the ideas being criticized, then takes those ideas to a ridiculous logical extreme in order to point out how ridiculous the original ideas are.

Example:

As you watch this clip, find elements of satire. Write them in your notes like this:

Video Clip #1

Element of Satire (name it) Example (what happens in the clip?)