5-Step Process for understanding, analyzing and appreciating satire.

Satire Analysis

“Satire is a literary technique in which behaviors or institutions are ridiculed for the purpose of improving society.”

“Satirist use irony and exaggeration to poke fun at human faults and foolishness in order to correct human behavior.”

“Satire.” The Language of Literature. Edited by Arthur N. Applebee. Evanston: McDougal Littell, 2002. 584-585. Rpt. in British Literature. Print.

What Exactly is Satire?

The satirist uses wit and humor with a critical, and sometimes judgmental, attitude.

The goal of the satirist writer is to expose the faults and foolishness of others in order to correct human behavior.

Ultimately the satirist desires to improve a belief or tradition.

To convey this message, the satirist will use:IronySarcasmRidicule Exaggeration

What Exactly is Satire?

5 Strategies for Reading Satire

1. Determine the ObjectFirst, determine the

object of satire. A writer who

encourages you to laugh at a custom, idea, trend, law, or a person probably thinks that the object of laughter is an undesirable part of society, and therefore needs to change.

5 Strategies for Reading Satire

2. Underlying MessageSecond, what is the

underlying message?Use your knowledge of

what the satirist criticizes to infer what he or she believes should be right and proper.

The underlying message will not be directly stated.

5 Strategies for Reading Satire

3. Look for the IronyThird, identify the type of

irony being used.The irony often points

directly at the object of satire, and often relates to the underlying message.

Remember the three types of irony: situational, verbal, and dramatic.

Oh, the IRONY!

Irony comes from the Ancient Greek eirōneía,

meaning feigned ignorance.

Irony is a literary technique,

or event, characterized by a contrast between

reality—what is—and appearance—what seems to

be.

Irony is further defined into three major

categories: situational, verbal, and dramatic .

A contrast between what we expect to happen, and what really happens. Where an event occurs which is unexpected, in the sense that it is somehow an absurd or mocking contradiction to what is expected or appropriate.

SituationalIrony

Situational Irony

Situational Irony Think about the 1984 commercial that we watched. Macintosh insisted that the year 1984 would be nothing like 1984…

Life is Filled With Situational Irony

Occurs when the meaning of a specific expression or a word is intended to be different from what the expression or word literally means. Sarcasm, puns, and word play are types of verbal irony.

Verbal Irony

When I'm feeling tired at work I just use my smart phone to download a nap.

When the bad poet stood in front of the judge, the judge thought the punishment should fit the rhyme.

My friend gave me a book about puns for my birthday and I loved it. It was two meaningful.

Verbal Irony:

Double-Sounding PunsRefers to a word sounding similar to another word, however not identical to the sound of the word.

Flashlight: a carrying case for dead batteries.

Shin: a device for finding tables in the dark.

Alarms: what an octopus is.Dockyard: a physician's

garden.Pasteurize: too fast to see.

Verbal Irony:

Word Re-Definition

Sometimes, a clever redefinition of a word can be considered a pun. The definition is unexpected, and humorous.

“I've returned from the lobotomy,” Tom said absentmindedly.

“Let's dig up the bodies,” Tom said gravely.

“I don't like hot dogs,” Tom said frankly.

“Drop the gun,” Tom said with a disarming smile.

“I lost my hair,” Tom bawled.

Verbal Irony:

Tom Swifty Puns

A play on a relationship between an adverb, and an action spoken in dialogue. These were inspired by an old-fashioned children’s book series about the adventures of Tom Swifty.

jumbo shrimpbitter sweetsweet sorrowminor miracleclearly confusedoriginal copies

found missingfriendly firestudent teachercurrent history

Verbal Irony:

Oxymoron

A figure of speech with contradictory terms.

Well-boiled icicle for well-oiled bicycle.

Sky as a height for high as a kite.Parah sailin’ for Sarah Palin.

Verbal Irony:

Spoonerisms

A result of changing around, especially accidentally, the initial sounds of two or more words.

Occurs when the audience or reader is aware of something important, but the characters in the story are not aware of this information.

Dramatic Irony

Dramatic IronyWhat you don’t know can hurt you!

In the play, Romeo and Juliet, the audience knows that Juliet and Friar Laurence came up with a plan where Juliet would take a so-called sleeping potion to sleep for 48 hours. Romeo never received the letter from Friar John, and therefore, he thought Juliet was actually dead. The result was TRAGIC!

Dramatic Irony

Have you ever seen a horror movie that has a killer on the loose? The audience knows what lies on the other side of the door. Needless to say, the character who opens the door is in for quite a surprise.

Dramatic Irony

“Pretty Bird. Pretty Bird.”

In the movie, Dumb and Dumber, the character Pete is blind, and he doesn’t know that his bird is decapitated.

5 Strategies for Reading Satire

4. Type of SatireBased on the object and

often the underlying message, decide which type of satire the creator is using.

Named for the roman satirists, Horace and Juvenal, it is either:Horatian orJuvenalian

Horatian SatireHoratian satire is playful and seeks to correct vice and foolishness of society in a gentle and sympathetic way.If you can relate to what the satirist is criticizing, it is probably Horatian.

Named for the Roman satiristQuintus Horatius FlaccusKnown as Horace (65–8 B.C.E.)

Horatian Satire

Juvenalian SatireJuvenalian satire is dark and biting. It criticizes social injustice and corruption with scorn and outrage.

If what is satirist is criticizing has nothing to do with you, it’s probably Juvenalian.

Named for the Roman satirist, Decimus Lunius LuvenalisKnown as Juvenal (2nd Century A.D.)

Juvenalian Satire

5 Strategies for Reading Satire

5. Enjoy the Humor

Pay attention to what makes you laugh or what sounds ridiculous and absurd.

While not always funny, satire calls attention to something in our world that needs to change.

Examples of Satire• Animal Farm and 1984 satirize the dangers of

communist and totalitarian governments.• SNL’s “Weekend Update,” The Jon Stewart Show, The

Colbert Report, Onion News Network satirize evening news programs.

• The Simpsons, South Park, Family Guy satirize popular culture, family sitcoms, and children’s cartoons.

• The Office, Modern Family, Parks and Recreation satirize sitcoms and documentary style shows (mocumentary).

• Reno 911 satirizes the reality show Cops.• Monty Python and the Holy Grail satirizes the legends

of King Arthur, chivalry, medieval England, the Catholic Church and the Grail quest.

Satire: Political CartoonWhat is the object of satire?

Gun laws, school safety, recent school shootings.

What is the underlying message?Based on the NRA’s proposal, schools will be no different from prisons.

Explain type of irony.Situational Irony—we expect schools to be safer than prisons, but it turns out that prisons are safer and better funded than schools.

What type of satire is it? Horatian, since school safety and gun rights are concerns shared by many people.

What should the reader find humorous? The satirist is implying that schools are worse than prisons, and nowhere near safe.

Satire: Internet MemesWhat is the object of satire?

Exercise videos/plans like Insanity that claim a “total-body conditioning program in 60 days.”

What is the underlying message? There is no quick-fix to promote wellness and exercise. Also, Americans, stereotypically, do not have the discipline to complete the program.

Explain type of irony.Situational, because we expect people who purchase Insanity will look like Shaun T after they finish the program.

What type of satire is it?Horatian since it is more light-hearted and generalized.

What should the reader find humorous?The last picture of the “couch potato”

Satire: Political Commentary

What is the object of satire?Former President George W. Bush

What is the underlying message? Bush should be more concerned with improving the economy and his legacy, not his book sales.

Explain type of irony.Situational because he wants the recession to end… to help his book sales, not because his administration caused it.

What type of satire is it?Juvenalian since it is critical of Bush’s handling of the economic meltdown.

What should the reader find humorous?His only fans are Wal Mart Shoppers.

“Bush Hopes Recession Doesn't Affect Sales Of His Memoirs”

http://www.theonion.com/articles/bush-hopes-recession-doesnt-affect-sales-of-his-me,6029/

Satire: On The Onion.com

What is the object of satire?Working parents looking for affordable childcare. Companies that will outsource anything to save a few $$$

What is the underlying message? If outsourcing babysitters sounds ridiculous so does outsourcing manufacturing at the cost of US jobs.

Explain type of irony.Situational because a business method used for manufacturing does not work for people—or childcare!

What type of satire is it?Horatian since it is not serious at all, it is playful and silly. However it does warn us that as we seek to outsource more, this could become a reality!

What should the reader find humorous?The baby in the box of Styrofoam. “I had to eat my own fingers.” Hyperbole—I Billion times the average salary in India.

“Many U.S. Parents Outsourcing

Child Care Overseas”

http://www.theonion.com/video/report-many-us-parents-outsourcing-child-care-over,14146/

Satire: On Saturday Night Live

What is the object of satire?Enhanced airport pat-down procedures.

What is the underlying message? The full body scanners and the enhanced pat-downs are invasive and excessive.

Explain type of irony.Situational—the viewer thinks the commercial is about an 800-number, but it is actually about the TSA security features.

What type of satire is it?Juvenalian—since it is overly critical of TSA’s invasive security procedures.

What should the reader find humorous?Viewers will find the contrast between the beautiful women and the security agents as humorous.

"Feeling lonely this holiday

season?"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CrIeRN48Ck