Satire

Animal Farm

Why are these funny?

What is satire?
In satire, human or individual vices, follies, abuses or shortcomings are held up to find fault with by means of ridicule, mockery, irony, or other methods, ideally with the intent to bring about improvement. Although satire is meant to be funny, the purpose of satire is not primarily humor in itself so much as an attack on something of which the author strongly disapproves, using the weapon of wit.
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What? Paraphrase, please

What is satire?

Satire: Making fun of some aspect of culture, society, and/or human nature to hopefully improve it or inspire change.

Isnt that comedy?

Satire differs from comedy in that:! Satire seeks to correct, improve, or reform throughout ridicule! Comedy aims simply to amuse its audience
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Satire uses laughter as a weapon against something that exists outside the work itself.

Two types of satire

Formal (Direct) Satire
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Indirect Satire
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The persona (speaker) uses first-person point of view! This speaker may address the reader or a character within the work

Some format other than direct address to the reader! This is usually a fictional narrative, in which objects of satire are characters ! Example: Animal Farm

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Example: A Modest Proposal

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Devices of Satire
The chief device of satire is irony.
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What are the three types of irony?

Devices of Satire
Other Devices Parody: poking fun at something by mimicking or imitating it
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Caricature: poking fun at a character by exaggerating its personal characteristics in drawing or narrative

Devices of Satire
Juxtaposition: the arrangement of two or more characters, ideas, or words side-by-side for the purpose of comparison, contrast, or character development
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Sarcasm: taunting on a personal level by saying something and meaning the opposite

Devices of Satire
Innuendo: a derogatory suggestion that is not literally spoken but rather hinted at
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Understatement: A figure of speech in which a writer or speaker deliberately makes a situation seem less important than it is

Analyzing Satire in 5 easy steps!

1. What's the tone of the satire?

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(grim, cheerful, sardonic, mock serious, optimistic, etc.) (direct vs. indirect)

2. What type of satire is this? 3. What is the writer satirizing?

(what aspect of society are they trying to criticize?)

4. What is the writer's purpose in satirizing this subject?

(what do they want to change?)

5. What literary techniques does the writer use in this satire?

(hyperbole, understatement, irony, humor, etc.)