The Elements of SatireThe Elements of SatireDamn with faint praise, assent with civil leer, And Damn with faint praise, assent with civil leer, And

without sneering teach the rest to sneer; Willing to without sneering teach the rest to sneer; Willing to wound, and yet afraid to strike, Just hint a fault, and wound, and yet afraid to strike, Just hint a fault, and

hesitate dislike; Alike reserv'd to blame, or to hesitate dislike; Alike reserv'd to blame, or to commend, A tim'rous foe, and a suspicious friend.commend, A tim'rous foe, and a suspicious friend.

-Alexander PopeAlexander Pope Satire should, like a polished razor keen, Wound Satire should, like a polished razor keen, Wound

with a touch that's scarcely felt or seen.with a touch that's scarcely felt or seen.

-Lady Mary Wortley Montagu-Lady Mary Wortley Montagu

What is satire?What is satire?• Comes from the latin word Comes from the latin word saturasatura, meaning “dish of , meaning “dish of

mixed ingredients”.mixed ingredients”.• A technique in which a writer ridicules or criticizes a A technique in which a writer ridicules or criticizes a

person, group, institution or event using certain person, group, institution or event using certain literary devices. literary devices.

• Usually witty.Usually witty.• Almost always sarcastic or ironic.Almost always sarcastic or ironic.• Usually has a tone of “mock-approval” – sarcastically Usually has a tone of “mock-approval” – sarcastically

supporting the very thing it is criticizing. supporting the very thing it is criticizing. How does the definition of satire relate to its latin root? How does the definition of satire relate to its latin root?

Forms of SatireForms of Satire• Drama (Drama (TartuffeTartuffe – Moliere, – Moliere, The Importance of Being The Importance of Being

EarnestEarnest- Oscar Wilde)- Oscar Wilde)• Journalism (Journalism (The Onion)The Onion)• Fiction (“A Modest Proposal”Fiction (“A Modest Proposal” – Jonathan Swift, “The – Jonathan Swift, “The

Lowest Animal” & Lowest Animal” & The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn – Mark Twain, )– Mark Twain, )

• Poetry (Poetry (The Rape of the LockeThe Rape of the Locke – Alexander Pope, – Alexander Pope, various Jonathan Swift poems)various Jonathan Swift poems)

• Graphic Arts (editorial cartoons)Graphic Arts (editorial cartoons)• Television programs (Saturday Night Live, The Chapelle Television programs (Saturday Night Live, The Chapelle

Show, The Daily Show) Show, The Daily Show) • Music (Music (With God on Our SideWith God on Our Side – Bob Dylan, – Bob Dylan, Don’t Drink Don’t Drink

the Water – the Water – Dave Matthews band, Dave Matthews band, Our TownOur Town – The – The GoGos)GoGos)

Literary Devices in SatireLiterary Devices in Satire

• Verbal irony/sarcasmVerbal irony/sarcasm• EuphemismEuphemism• Parody Parody • Juxtaposition (especially of normal and ridiculous Juxtaposition (especially of normal and ridiculous

situations)situations)• AntithesisAntithesis• Elevated diction/jargonElevated diction/jargon• Double entendreDouble entendre• Hyperbolic overstatement/exaggerationHyperbolic overstatement/exaggeration• Comparison/analogyComparison/analogy• Contrived diction/ ridiculous examplesContrived diction/ ridiculous examples

Verbal IronyVerbal Irony

Discuss: What is verbal irony?Discuss: What is verbal irony?

Example: “These shows feature scintillating shots Example: “These shows feature scintillating shots of trucks being unloaded, sewing machines of trucks being unloaded, sewing machines humming along and paint rollers being pushed humming along and paint rollers being pushed up and down walls”.up and down walls”.

Discuss: Explain the verbal irony in the previous Discuss: Explain the verbal irony in the previous quotation. How does it add to the satirical tone of quotation. How does it add to the satirical tone of the piece?the piece?

EuphemismEuphemism

Discuss: What is euphemism?Discuss: What is euphemism?

Example: “sexually ambiguous young male Example: “sexually ambiguous young male designers”designers”

Discuss: Explain the euphemism. How does Discuss: Explain the euphemism. How does it add to the satirical tone of the piece?it add to the satirical tone of the piece?

ParodyParody

Discuss: What is parody?Discuss: What is parody?

Example: “PIMP MY TAX RETURN!” Teams Example: “PIMP MY TAX RETURN!” Teams of comely accountants trick out your1099 of comely accountants trick out your1099 with chrome loopholes”.with chrome loopholes”.

Discuss: Explain this example of parody and Discuss: Explain this example of parody and discuss how it adds to the satirical quality discuss how it adds to the satirical quality of the piece.of the piece.

JuxtapositionJuxtaposition

Discuss: What is juxtaposition?Discuss: What is juxtaposition?

Example: ‘“GUESS MY TRANSPLANT!” Each Example: ‘“GUESS MY TRANSPLANT!” Each contestant has a major organ transplant, and contestant has a major organ transplant, and friends and family have to guess which one”.friends and family have to guess which one”.

Discuss: Explain what two things are juxtaposed Discuss: Explain what two things are juxtaposed and how it adds to the satirical quality of this and how it adds to the satirical quality of this piece.piece.

AntithesisAntithesis

Discuss: What is antithesis?Discuss: What is antithesis?

Example: “One would think shows like this would Example: “One would think shows like this would be as boring as watching paint dry since they be as boring as watching paint dry since they sometimes consist of watching paint dry. But sometimes consist of watching paint dry. But viewers are enthralled!”viewers are enthralled!”

Discuss: Explain this antithesis and discuss how it Discuss: Explain this antithesis and discuss how it adds to the satirical quality of the piece.adds to the satirical quality of the piece.

Elevated diction/jargonElevated diction/jargon

Discuss: What is “elevated” diction?Discuss: What is “elevated” diction?

Examples: “begat”, “dictum”, “detritus”.Examples: “begat”, “dictum”, “detritus”.

Discuss: Why does the writer include Discuss: Why does the writer include elevated diction? How does it add to the elevated diction? How does it add to the satirical aspect of the piece?satirical aspect of the piece?

Double entendreDouble entendre

Discuss: Define “double entendre”.Discuss: Define “double entendre”.

Example: “watching paint dry”Example: “watching paint dry”

Discuss: Explain the dual meaning of the Discuss: Explain the dual meaning of the phrase and how it contributes to the phrase and how it contributes to the satirical tone of the passage.satirical tone of the passage.

Hyperbolic Overstatement/ Hyperbolic Overstatement/ ExaggerationExaggeration

Discuss: What is hyperbole and exaggeration? Discuss: What is hyperbole and exaggeration? Give your own example.Give your own example.

Example: “ the sort of den to wash away care and Example: “ the sort of den to wash away care and herald the coming of paradise on earth”.herald the coming of paradise on earth”.

Discuss: What does this hyperbolic statement Discuss: What does this hyperbolic statement allude to and how does it contribute to the allude to and how does it contribute to the satirical tone of the piece?satirical tone of the piece?

Comparison/AnalogyComparison/Analogy

Discuss: Typically, what is the purpose of a Discuss: Typically, what is the purpose of a comparison or analogy?comparison or analogy?

Example: “”they transform a once normal if Example: “”they transform a once normal if unremarkable room into the interior design unremarkable room into the interior design equivalent of the old Funkadelic concert equivalent of the old Funkadelic concert costumes”.costumes”.

Discuss: What is the purpose of this analogy? How Discuss: What is the purpose of this analogy? How does it add to the satirical tone of the piece?does it add to the satirical tone of the piece?

Funkadelic!!!!Funkadelic!!!!

Contrived diction/ ridiculous examplesContrived diction/ ridiculous examples

Find a made-up word or ridiculous Find a made-up word or ridiculous situation in the article.situation in the article.

“…“…who descend upon bland suburban rec who descend upon bland suburban rec rooms, closets and garages while the rooms, closets and garages while the owner is away or owner is away or in a coma.”in a coma.”

What makes this situation “ridiculous”? Are What makes this situation “ridiculous”? Are there any other examples in the article?there any other examples in the article?

Why Satire?Why Satire?

Now that you know the elements of satire, Now that you know the elements of satire, what do you think makes satire effective? what do you think makes satire effective? Why do writers use satire instead of Why do writers use satire instead of criticizing the person, group or institution criticizing the person, group or institution directly?directly?

Your TurnYour Turn

Read the article from Read the article from The OnionThe Onion and find and find examples of satirical devices. Then, write examples of satirical devices. Then, write a Reading Response responding to the a Reading Response responding to the 2005 AP prompt.2005 AP prompt.