Satire

1190 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Satire in today's contemporary culture

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. ...

... middle of paper ...

...ng out of my head. . .” which is talking about the actual song because it has a catchy tune and annoying lyrics, therefore it has a tendency to stay stuck in one’s head.

Satire is used in our everyday lives all around us. Sometimes one can spot it if it Juvenalian satire, or sometimes it is less obvious like Horatian satire. It can be found in classic, well known novels, it is found in some movies, cartoons, and even some commercials on television. No matter what method or shape that satire comes in, it has been and still will be a prominent language in our society.

Works Cited

"satire." The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2005. 14 Feb. 2012.

Golding, William. Lord of the Flies. New York: Perigee, 1954. Print.

Larson, Gary. The Far Side Gallery 3. Kansas City: McMeel Universal Co, 1980. Print

Show More
Related

  • Examples Of Satire In Fahrenheit 451

    518 Words  | 2 Pages

    While the tone may range from playful to angry, satire generally criticizes in order to make a change. Exaggeration, parody, reversal, and incongruity are satirical devices. Author’s use satirical devices to strengthen their central idea.

    Read More

  • Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut

    485 Words  | 1 Pages

    1. Define 'satire' and provide one example of personal or social satire that yoou have encountered. You may use any source for your example:TV, media, news editorials, movies, comedy, etc.

    Read More

  • Unequality in Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut

    860 Words  | 2 Pages

    Satirical writing allows the author to express his or her opinion about a problem in society. A writing must follow three rules in order for it to be classified as satirical. First, a continuous focus on one’s subject’s faults. Secondly, instead of telling the reader directly, information must be given indirectly. Thirdly, the writing must have a variety of satirical techniques in general (Festa). With these simple guidelines, an author can demonstrate his beliefs of what he thinks needs to be changed in society.

    Read More

  • Comparing Canterbury Tales 'And A Modest Proposal'

    901 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the Fictions of Satire, Ronald Paulson talks about the four ways satire works. It implies corruption, the consequences of it, motivates the reader to make a moral decision, and operates as a corrective (Paulson). It also talks about the difference between Horatian and Juvenalian satire. These different types of satire are used to give different emotions in a story. An example of Horatian satire would be The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer and an example of Juvenalian would be “A Modest Proposal” by Jonathan Swift. No matter if a satire is Horatian or Juvenalian, the ultimate goal of a satire is to put humor in a story, while pointing out flaws in society and

    Read More

  • The Onion As A Satire

    620 Words  | 2 Pages

    Satire is form of comedy in which flaws in people or society are chastised in order to prompt change in the objects of criticism. Regardless of how long ago comedy itself may have existed, the concept of satire was introduced by the Roman satirists, Juvenal and Horace. The tones conveyed in their writing characterize the main modes of satire, being Horatian and Juvenalian, and are still used in satire today. Presently, two popular forms of comedy that employ satirical elements include parody news sources and comedic performances. Although satirical writing has evolved throughout history, many aspects of satire are still apparent in both the articles of parody news sources, like The Onion, and the performances of professional comedians, like

    Read More

  • Effective Satire in God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater

    1117 Words  | 3 Pages

    Satire is a technique used in literature to criticize the faults of society. An excellent examle of contemporary satire is Kurt Vonnegut's novel God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater. The author tells the life of Eliot Rosewater, a young and affluent man troubled by the plights of the poor. Eliot is the President of the Rosewater Foundation, a sum of money worth approximately $87 million. Using this position, he does everything he can to help the poor. This charity giving is socially unacceptable to the wealthy, particularly Eliot's father Senator Lister Ames Rosewater. Vonnegut uses caricature, irony, and tone to satirize the lack of care the rich have for those socially "beneath them."

    Read More

  • Examples Of Satirical Humor

    1060 Words  | 3 Pages

    The satirical humor expresses the social criticism on issues about politics. “Satire features a heightened sense of irony, highlighting contradictions, inconsistencies, absurdities, mining them for their humor, and even highlighting flaws and fakeries to people (Day 256).” Satirical humor involved media about politics so it can gain the audience's attention.The satirical humor reveals everything about the hypocrisy and foolishness of

    Read More

  • Young Frankenstein and One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest

    1401 Words  | 3 Pages

    The films Young Frankenstein and One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest can be viewed as a critical analysis of society’s issues and dysfunctions in the form of satire and parody using humor. While Young Frankenstein, Mel Brooks cinematic version of the gothic novel, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, uses parody in the form of Horatian satire, which is achieved through gentle ridicule and using a tone that is indulgent, tolerant, amused and witty. The film One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest, the adaptation of the Ken Kesey novel, uses a form of satire called Juvenalian satire which is demonstrated in the form of attacks on vice and error with contempt and indignation. Horatian satire will produce a humor response from the reader instead of anger or indignation as Juvenalian satire. Juvenalian satire, in its realism and its harshness, is in strong contrast to Horatian satire (Kent and Drury).

    Read More

  • Satire

    1450 Words  | 3 Pages

    Satire is a great tool used by many writers and actors since ancient times. The earliest example that we know about is a script from 2nd millennium BC in Ancient Egypt (Definition: Satire) and since then has evolved into a great part of our society. Satire is used to point out the faults of human vice in order for change and reform in either of two ways. There is a very bitter Juvenalian or a mild and light Horatian. In order to fully understand these forms of satire, method, purpose, and applications will be addressed.

    Read More

  • The Pardoner's Tale And The Wife Of Bath Satire Analysis

    1115 Words  | 3 Pages

    What does it mean for literature to be characterized as a type of satire? According to Oxford Dictionaries, “Satire, is the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people’s stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues.” There are countless examples of how satire has enabled great writers a way to achieve their ultimate goals. In fact, many of the modern stories and works of literature that we study, have, in one way or another some type of satire. For instance, if you look at many of our current plays or even movies you can see that most

    Read More

  • satire

    865 Words  | 2 Pages

    As Charles Dixon walked in his office he was thinking about what other fun things he should do to punish the students at good ole Merced High. As you could see Mr. Dixon is the commander, leader, or just as we call it today, a principal. After the war that happen between the students and the staff there as been a lot more strictness to the school rules. Ever since I left this school its basically been more like a public military school. Your probably wondering why I’m not at Merced High School well, I got kicked out. I was walking with my disc man to my class and all electronics must be off when the bells ring infuriately there happen to be a sniper on the west wing of the campus and has soon as the clock struck 8:20, they shot me! Right on my ear. I only didn’t go to the hospital I got kicked out for being tardy and I lost 30% percent of my hearing on my left ear!

    Read More

  • Thank You For Arguing Reflection

    654 Words  | 2 Pages

    The book Thank You for Arguing has made a huge impact on how I argue not only in my essays, but in real life situations as well. I have enjoyed learning about the different fallacies or, as Heinrichs calls them, the “Seven deadly logical sins”, how to spot them, and where they are found the most. Although I have loved learning about rhetoric and fallacies, my favorite lesson by far has been the satire unit. I enjoy looking to see if someone's speech or essay is presented in satire form and how to differentiate between the speaker and author; I believe knowledge of satire to be an effective way of arguing and understanding other people's arguments. As much as i love learning satire, I always have trouble seeing if the passage is satire, and what the speaker is saying as opposed to the author. Rhetoric and satire can prove to be two crucial parts in arguing effectively and have both helped me immensely in shaping my

    Read More

  • Satire Essay

    536 Words  | 2 Pages

    According to Everything’s an Argument by Andrea A. Lunsford and John J. Ruszkiewicz, “Humor has always played an important role in argument…” (38). Humor itself is something that activates amusement or laughter. Moreover, in popular culture satire is a tool that is used to point out things in our society. Satire opens the minds of people to philosophies they might completely deny, using humor. There are many elements of satire that identify flaws within our society. A couple of satire elements that will be discussed are irony and exaggeration. In addition, a parody is used in popular culture as a way to mock or mimic situation or person.

    Read More

  • Free Essays - Use of Satire in Pride and Prejudice

    1131 Words  | 3 Pages

    Satire is used in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen to show the deficiencies in morals and ethics of the characters that Austen disapproves of. Satire is used to "attack" characters and to bring about change. The different characters types she satirizes are "suck-ups," hierarchical, and/or ignorant.

    Read More

  • Essay on Satire in Lysistrata

    766 Words  | 2 Pages

    Satire is a literary manner built on wit and humor with a critical attitude directed to human institutions and humanity.  A successful satiric play will show certain truths about society and then try to improve upon them.  Satire is meant to be constructive rather than destructive.  Aristophanes uses satire in Lysistrata to convey many different themes such as war and peace, the struggles of power and class, and the life and death issues that are seen in war.  Satire is successfully used and seen in Lysistrata by stereotyping women in general and then the different classes of women as well.  Double entendres are seen throughout the play to help add humor to the play.  Sex is used as humorous tool but only to covey a deeper theme that consists of war and peace and also of life and death.

    Read More

More about Satire

Open Document