Identifying and Using Satire

Satire is a way of making fun of people by using silly or exaggerated language. Politicians are easy targets for satire, especially when they're acting self-righteous or hypocritical.Even though the ridiculous language of satire isn't intended to be taken seriously, well-made satire can use mockery to get at more serious truths. Sometimes satire can even overtake reality: when the television sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live presented a mock debate between Al Gore and George W. Bush during the 2000 presidential campaign season, the satire was so dead-on that it influenced the way people thought of the candidates.

The statement above is an example of...

• formal definition

• informal definition

• extended definition

What is satire?

• The use of literary devices to create cinematic, rich images

• The use of incongruity, irony, parody, exaggeration to mock vices and folly

• The use of personification and metaphor to create a unified tone and theme

• A form of zeitgeist

Satire is a term that only applies to literature.

• True

• False

The main purpose of Satire is to...

• Agree with something

• Make people laugh

• Criticize something

• To bring about change

What kind of satire is this mostly representative of?​ (a)   ​ ​ ​ ​ (b)  

• Exaggeration

• Incongruity

• Reversal

• Parody

What kind of satire is this mostly representative of?​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ (a)   ​ (b)  

• Incongruity

• Exaggeration

• Parody

• Reversal

What kind of satire is this mostly representative of?​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ (a)   ​

• Exaggeration

• Parody

• Reversal

• Incongruity

Which of the following is NOT part of satire?

• Humor

• Exaggeration

• Truthful representation

• Irony

How does satire attempt to improve individuals or society?

• By modeling correct thought and behavior

• By ridiculing flaws and follies

• By praising achievements and honors

• By explicitly explaining the difference between right and wrong

Which of the four strategies of satire refers to imitating another’s technique or style?

• Hyperbole

• Reversal

• Inversion

• Parody