Bellwork
Generate a list of elements of fairy tales.
What characteristics do you expect to
encounter when reading or viewing a fairy
tale?
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English 11 AP
Perry High School
Satire
The
use of irony, sarcasm,
ridicule, or the like, in
exposing, denouncing, or
deriding vice, folly, etc. In
film and literature, it is most
commonly used to point out
societal flaws.
The necessary ingredients



Humor
Criticism, either general criticism of
humanity or human nature or specific
criticism of an individual or group
Some kind of moral voice: simply
mocking or criticizing is not “satire”
Justification for Satire
Satire
is usually justified as a corrective
of human vice and folly.
The aim of satire
 to ridicule the fault or failing of the
individual, rather than the
individual person
 to target only those faults that
are correctable, not those for which the
individual is not responsible.
The Satiric Manner



Ironic/Sarcastic
Either good natured criticism (Horatian
after Horace) or bitterly cynical
denunciation (Juvenalian after Juvenal)
Always opposed to pretense, affectation,
and hypocrisy
Satire v. Comedy
Satire
differs from comedy
 Comedy evokes laughter mainly as an
end in itself, while satire derides
 Satire uses laughter as a weapon, and
against the butt - an object - that
exists outside the work itself.

Gentle and humorous satire is called
“Horatian Satire” after the writing style of
the Roman poet Horace. One of the
characteristics of Horatian satire is that it
includes a higher percentage of humor.

Heavy or biting satire called “Juvenalian
Satire” after the Roman poet Juvenal.

Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels is a
Horatian Satire but his “Modest Proposal”
is Juvenalian Satire.
The Four Elements of Satire
Exaggeration
To enlarge, increase, or
represent something
beyond normal bounds so
that it becomes ridiculous,
and its faults can be seen.
The Four Elements of Satire
Incongruity
To present things that
are out of place or are
absurd in relation to its
surroundings.
The Four Elements of Satire
Reversal
To present the opposite of
the normal order (e.g., the
order of events,
hierarchical order).
The Four Elements of Satire
Parody-
To imitate the
techniques and/or
style of some person,
place, or thing.
While viewing the following clip, look for
elements that depart from the
characteristics of the typical fairy tale that
we just discussed. Make note of them in
your journal.
Check your work
Exaggeration
Princess Fiona fights and successfully
defeats Robin Hood and all of his
Merry Men without any help and
without any weapons.
Princess Fiona uses her ponytail to
deliver a knockout punch to one of
the Merry Men. While frozen in a
mid-air martial arts kick, Princess
Fiona pauses to fix her disheveled
hair before knocking out two of the
Merry Men.
Incongruity
Reversal
The roles of the hero and the
damsel in distress have been
reversed. In this clip, it is
Princess Fiona, the rescuee,
who fights and defeats the foe.
Parody
The fight scene is an exaggerated
imitation of the martial arts style
and special effects used in
movies such as The Matrix and
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.
Let’s Identify

Determine which element of satire from
the following clips from Shrek (2001):
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVGpnn3
mXTk (fight)
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X81AoBc
VnaA (Duloc)
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56PdNa
ZEsrU (song)
Analyze

Choose ONE clip and write a SEE-set in
which you explain the elements of satire
used and the author’s purpose.
A fully developed explanation must address
what societal flaw(s) the author is pointing out
and why.