Satire. Vocabulary to Analyze HUMOR Exaggeration- Exaggeration- an overstatement Understatement...
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Cultural Mockery as Satire
Satire. Vocabulary to Analyze HUMOR Exaggeration- Exaggeration- an overstatement Understatement Understatement-opposite of exaggeration; using a statement,
Vocabulary to Analyze HUMOR Exaggeration- Exaggeration- an
overstatement Understatement Understatement-opposite of
exaggeration; using a statement, often in the negative, to create
comedic effect. Farce Farce-form of low comedy designed to provoke
laughter through highly exaggerated caricatures of people in
improbable or silly situations. Irony Irony-saying/doing one thing
while meaning another. When the opposite of what is expected to
happen occurs Mockery Mockery: An absurd misrepresentation or
imitation of something.
Slide 3
Analyzing humor Watch the following clip and identify the
elements of comedy you see in it.
Slide 4
Is it satire ?
Slide 5
Page 4 of your packet Summarize Judge Analyze
Slide 6
Swifts Satire A Modest Proposal Satirical Essay that mocks the
essay genre by Using IronyEat the Babies (we should stop treating
others like they are less than human) Using FarceKid Skin Gloves
(lol; punny) Using exaggerationhelping the economy recover by
reducing the population and increasing exports (no quick fix to the
economy) Using understatement--"some scrupulous People might be apt
to censure such a Practice (although indeed very unjustly) as a
little bordering upon Cruelty. (a little???) Using MockeryMocking
the Irish for not fighting injustice and the English for treating
people so badly
Slide 7
A Modest Proposal is satire because it inspires people to re-
evaluate their society and is funny because Satire uses
Exaggeration, Mockery, Farce, Irony, and Understatement to be
humorous but also to inspire change. Talladega Nights mocks the
NASCAR world and is funny. Is it satire?
Slide 8
Jonathan Swifts Cultural Mockery
Slide 9
Review Historical Background What conflicts exist in English
society during the 18 th century? What institution mainly fuels
these conflicts?
Slide 10
Religious conflict Prior to 1520 all of Europe was Roman
Catholic (with very few exceptions) 1517: Lutheranism: Martin
Luther & his 95 Thesis meant to reform the Catholic church but
was excommunicated from the church and others began to embrace his
ideas 1529: Calvinism: John Calvin converts to Lutheranism and
added some of his own ideas to the reformation
Slide 11
Anglicanism in England 1533: King Henry VIII separated from the
RCC b/c of his divorce with his current wife so he could marry (the
already pregnant?) Anne Boleyn Church of England formed and even
embraced some ideas from Lutheranism
Slide 12
Persecution & Conflict CATHOLICS Old School Religion
PROTESTANTS New Kid on the Block
Slide 13
Gullivers Travels: Plot outline The true account of Lemuel
Gullivers adventures after being lost at sea and returning home
about 9 years later to a wife, who is moving on, and a son hes
never met. Are his adventures real? Are his adventures
manifestations of lunacy?
Slide 14
Land of the Little People
Slide 15
Basic Characters Gulliver - narrator and protagonist; Surgeon
Contradiction vivid and detailed narration = intelligent and well
educated BUT perceptions are nave and gullible. The Lilliputians-
The 6 inch tall inhabitants of Lilliput Big Enders and Little
Enders The emperor - The ruler of Lilliput. Satire of autocratic
rule and oddly somber picture of political power
Slide 16
Swifts Satire Political commentary using Exaggeration-
Exaggeration- an overstatement Understatement
Understatement-opposite of exaggeration; using a statement, often
in the negative, to create comedic effect. Farce Farce-form of low
comedy designed to provoke laughter through highly exaggerated
caricatures of people in improbable or silly situations. Irony
Irony-saying/doing one thing while meaning another. When the
opposite of what is expected to happen occurs Mockery Mockery: An
absurd misrepresentation or imitation of something. While viewing,
every time you see an example of these tools being used, jot it
downyou should be able to come up with one example of each!
Slide 17
Land of the Little People: VIEWING (46 minutes)
Slide 18
Lilliputians Persecution and Conflict Big Endians Old school
breaking eggs Exiles from Lilliput=exiles from England to France
Small Endians New school breaking eggs Current residents= Residents
in England
Slide 19
How is this a farce? Farce Farce-form of low comedy designed to
provoke laughter through highly exaggerated caricatures of people
in improbable or silly situations.
Slide 20
What is the purpose of this statement? Can he truly make a
difference?
Slide 21
Anglicanism in England 1533: King Henry VIII separated from the
RCC b/c of his divorce with his current wife so he could marry (the
already pregnant?) Anne Boleyn Church of England formed and even
embraced some ideas from Lutheranism ONE PERSON forces the ENTIRE
COUNTRY to change due to ONE incident--- FARCE: cutting your finger
on the egg while breaking it.
Slide 22
Swifts Satire Political commentary using Exaggeration-
Exaggeration- Understatement Understatement- Farce Farce- Irony
Irony- Mockery Mockery:
Slide 23
Historical Connections Humpty Dumptyliterally fell off the
wall. How can this figuratively apply? What did Humpty Dumpty stand
for? Humpty Dumpty was a cannon that was destroyed during the
English civil warliterally fell off the wall. Other religious
conflicts: Jews vs. Christians; Jews vs. Muslims; Christians vs.
Atheists Republicans vs. Democrats The Great Schism (religious
split) of the 17 th Century Americans prejudice vs. Iraqi people
Native Americans disbelief in Europeansinsisting they were Gods War
todaypeople fighting and dying and fighting over why we are
fighting Tea party movementsprotest laws
Slide 24
Media Connections Night at the Museum (Romans vs. Cowboys and
the Night watchman) The Lion King (Scar is exiled and goes to war
against the mainland) Where the Wild Things Are (the boy with the
wild things) Avatar(Use of resources and main character refusing to
blow up others) Man vs. Wild (Surviving in unknown territories) Da
Vinci Code (Secrets to promote a change in viewpoint)
Slide 25
Book Connections Macbeth (greed and power; using others to take
over) Bible (Moses turning the Nile into blood freaked out the
Egyptians)
Slide 26
Important ideas we can extract Dangers of Racism and
Discrimination Importance of Size Abuse of Power Dangers of Greed
Dangers of Judging Others Honor can Quickly fade to Judgment
Slide 27
Land of the Little People lesson results in disappointment in
humankind; belittling our disputes; if Brobdingnag is Big People
what lessons might result?
Slide 28
Symbolism? Exaggeration? Labeling? Analogy? Irony? Government
controlling the giant
Slide 29
Land of the Giants
Slide 30
Characters The farmer - Gullivers first master in Brobdingnag.
An average Brobdingnagian only ruling by size. Speaks to Gulliver
as an equally rational creature. Puts Gulliver on display:
Cha-Ching! Nearly starve Gulliver by accident Glumdalclitch - The
farmers nine-year-old daughter, who is forty feet tall. Befriends
Gulliver and teaches him the language Takes care of him like a doll
or a petsymbolizing Gullivers status here.
Slide 31
Characters part II The queen - The queen of Brobdingnag buys
Gulliver for 1,000 pieces of gold. Considerate: asks Gulliver to
live at the palace and inquiring over his health Not a hero, but a
pleasant, powerful person. The king - The king of Brobdingnag:
intellectual, well versed in political science among others.
Serious discussions about the history and institutions of Gullivers
home. figure of rational thought
Slide 32
Swifts Satire Political commentary using Exaggeration-
Exaggeration- an overstatement Understatement
Understatement-opposite of exaggeration; using a statement, often
in the negative, to create comedic effect. Farce Farce-form of low
comedy designed to provoke laughter through highly exaggerated
caricatures of people in improbable or silly situations. Irony
Irony-saying/doing one thing while meaning another. When the
opposite of what is expected to happen occurs Mockery Mockery: An
absurd misrepresentation or imitation of something. While viewing,
every time you see an example of these tools being used, jot it
downyou should be able to come up with one example of each!
Slide 33
Land of the Giants (Viewing 40 minutes)
Slide 34
Lilliputians vs. Brobdingagians Itty Bitty Execute people for
fun Cruel masters Dominating Petty Ridiculous SMALL!!!! Swifts
satire: Small stature=small mindedness= Gulliver bigger person
Predict: If Brobdingnag is Big People what lessons might
result?
Slide 35
QuoteBrobdingnagians But, by what I have gathered from your own
relation, and the answers I have with much pains wringed and
extorted from you, I cannot but conclude the bulk of your natives
to be the most pernicious races of little odious vermin that nature
ever suffered to crawl upon the surface of the earth
Slide 36
ReplyGulliver Nothing but an extreme love of truth could have
hindered me from concealing this part of my story. It was in vain
to discover my resentments, which were always turned into ridicule;
and I was forced to rest with patience while my noble and most
beloved country was so injuriously treated.
Slide 37
To teach the Brobdingnagians a valuable scientific
invention!
Slide 38
He would rather lose half his kingdom than be privy to such a
secret, which he commanded me, as I valued my life, never to
mention any more.
Slide 39
Swifts meaning Humans are AWFUL! Misanthropy? Why use the
Brobdingnagians to say this and have Gulliver resist? Softens the
blow of the true message
Slide 40
Swifts Satire Political commentary using Exaggeration-
Exaggeration- Understatement Understatement- Farce Farce- Irony
Irony- Mockery Mockery:
Slide 41
Satirical elements Relates to England Whigs Tories the scourge
of France Relates to humanity Trade Wars by sea and land Religious
schisms Political parties Houses Cities Vanity Emotions
Shortcomings (fight, cheat, betray)
Slide 42
Napoleon I as Gulliver George III as King of Brobdingnag Whats
a more modern example you could come up with? Sketch it in your
notes.
Slide 43
Connections?
Slide 44
Important ideas we can extract Dangers Desensitizing Ourselves
to violence Dangers of Scientific Discovery Importance of Examining
our Activities and Vices
Slide 45
Jonathan Swift
Slide 46
The importance of differences What is the most important
physical difference between the Lilliputians and the
Brobdingnagians? Lilliputians are tiny Brobdingnagians are enormous
How does this physical difference suggest other important ways in
which they differ? Lilliputians are small in character (taking
over; warring; enslaving; backstabbing etc.) Brobdingnagians are
greater in character (value human and insect life on a deeper level
than he does himself) How do the Lilliputians and the
Brobdingnagians each represent a different way of viewing humanity?
Gulliver >Lilliputians & distances himself from their
follies Gulliver < Brobdingnag b/c he identifies and defends
similar follies
Slide 47
According to Swift What is basically wrong with the world and
its inhabitants? How do you feel about his stance on morality?
Slide 48
Free write Name and DESCRIBE one scientific invention (besides
the atom bomb or gunpowder) that has changed to course of humanity.
Explain how it has changed humanity and judge whether it has
changed humanity for the better or worse.
Slide 49
When you are done with your quiz you need to Turn quiz in (no
Vocabulary next week because you have a test next Friday) Turn to
page 13 in your packet and read the letter to Alexander Pope from
Jonathan Swift. Answer the question that follows the passage.
Misanthropy: Hatred or distrust of humankind
Slide 50
Kurt Vonnegut, Breakfast of Champions 1492. As children we were
taught to memorize this year with pride and joy as the year people
began living full and imaginative lives on the continent of North
America. Actually, people had been living full and imaginative
lives on the continent of North America for hundreds of years
before that. 1492 was simply the year sea pirates began to rob,
cheat, and kill them. Vonnegut presents a different perspective of
a common event: what is it? Why do you think school children are
taught to respect the date? Is it right to teach this to children?
What can you conclude about Vonnegut and his writing based on this
quote? Would he and Swift be friends? Explain.
Slide 51
Harrison Bergeron Kurt Vonnegut A warning about the FUTURE
Slide 52
Kurt Vonnegut (1922-2007) A blend of comedy, satire, science
fiction and politics. Humanist
Slide 53
Harrison Bergeron First published in 1961 in the Magazine of
Fantasy and Science Fiction. SATIRE Enforced Equality Political
abuse of power (Handicapper General) Enervating effects of TV
Slide 54
Finally Equal Capitalism gone American democracy gone Consider
the fact that this short story was published in 1961 What does the
elimination of advantages, difference, and competition suggest
concerning the nature of the changes that have taken place? Is this
possible in America? Should it be? Barbie dollsoriginal vs. now?
Sportsevery one gets a chance; medals to all; not keeping
score
Slide 55
Vonneguts Satire Political commentary using Exaggeration-
Exaggeration- an overstatement Understatement
Understatement-opposite of exaggeration; using a statement, often
in the negative, to create comedic effect. Farce Farce-form of low
comedy designed to provoke laughter through highly exaggerated
caricatures of people in improbable or silly situations. Irony
Irony-saying/doing one thing while meaning another. When the
opposite of what is expected to happen occurs Mockery Mockery: An
absurd misrepresentation or imitation of something. While reading,
every time you see an example of these tools being used, jot it
downyou may or may not find all of them, but you should find
several examples for a few.
Slide 56
SATIRE Enforced Equality Handicaps Ear radios (intelligence)
Bags of bird shot (strength) Masks (physical beauty) Political
abuse of power Handicapper General Do or Die Exempt from law?
Enervating effects of TV Hazel: how did she become normal; she has
some reasoning skills, but only thinks in short burstsdoes TV do
this to us? George: acceptance of the normal; no rebellion;
desensitized to violence and ignorant to truthcan TV do this? Neil
Postman: Amusing Ourselves to Death this ensemble of electronic
techniques called into being a new world a peek-a-boo world, where
now this event, no that, pops into view for a moment, then vanishes
again. It is a world without much coherence or sense [] like the
childs game of peek-a-boo entirely self contained. But like
peek-a-boo, it is also endlessly entertaining (77).
Slide 57
What we can extract Importance freedom, civil rights, and even
social status Strong vs. Weakmental, physical, emotional etc.
Dangers of dystopian (degraded, oppressive state) society The more
the government controls the less the public knows and the more
ignorant they become Ignorance should not be bliss, though Hazel
seems to embody this clich Failure to appreciate uniqueness could
lead to this kind of apathy
Slide 58
Complete analysis handout with your partner 10 minutes