Satire
by Lillian Bonar
Essay: Satire
Pages: 11
Rating: 3 stars
Download Links:
• Satire.pdf
• Satire.doc
What is all around us? What is used every day? What makes some laugh? What is the answer to these questions?
The answer is satire. Satire is a form of criticism that can be used in many ways and in many different situations.
Sometimes satire is easy to spot, other times it may be incognito. Satire is commonly found in literary works,
movies, cartoons, and even some news casts.
The formal definition of satire is the use of humor to expose human follies. (Dictionary.com). Satire is mostly
written because a certain issue bothered the author. Through satire, these issues are brought into the sight of
others so that issues could possibly be improved. There are four techniques that are used to create a satire. There
is exaggeration, incongruity, reversal, and parody. Exaggeration is where the faults of a person or institution are
exaggerated to make it look ludicrous. Incongruity is where something is presented out of place in accordance to
its surroundings. A reversal is where something like the order of events is abnormal. The last technique that is
used is parody. Parody is where the style or technique of a person, place or thing is imitated.
Satire can be broken into two different sub categories. There is Juvenalian satire and Horatian satire. Juvenalian
satire is a very harsh form of satire. This form of satire is full of dislike and is very bitter towards a certain
institution or person. Juvenalian satire tends to produce anger form the reader. This type of satire can be found in
political cartoons. Horatian satire is the complete opposite of Juvenalian satire. Horatian satire is very witty and
may seem to be amused with the topic at hand. The author is very gentle with any criticism towards a person,
institution, or issue. ...