Satire

Introduction to Satire

Information to help you understand Chaucer's "General Prologue"

What exactly is satire?

• Satire is a work of literature (or art) that looks at individuals or groups, points out the flaws, and ridicules those flaws, hoping that the subject of the ridicule will be embarrassed enough to change.

• Think of satire as a mirror that reflects all the ridiculous behaviors and beliefs of society in an effort to get society to do better. 

Satiric Techniques

Exaggeration: enlarging, increasing, or representing something beyond normal bounds so it becomes ridiculous and its faults are easier to see. Exaggeration includes caricature, which is when a physical feature or trait is exaggerated (political cartoons are a great example). It also includes burlesque, which focuses on the use of language (an uneducated character using highly sophisticated language).

Satiric Techniques

Parody: a parody is an imitation of the style and/or technique of a person, place, or thing in order to be successful. Shows like “Saturday Night Live” parody political candidates to ridicule them and their statements/behavior. The catch is, that for a parody to be successful, the audience must be familiar with who or what is being ridiculed.

Satiric Techniques

Incongruity: presenting things that are out of place, or that are absurd in relation to their surroundings (see any episode ever of “Rick and Morty”). Incongruity includes oxymoron (think jumbo shrimp), metaphor, and irony.