Satire. Satire: Making a point (usually funny) by using sarcasm, irony, parody, or ridicule

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1 Satire Satire is humor with a bite. It is form of writing, art, or entertainment in which the creator makes fun of people, usually to make a point. For example, humorists have used satire for centuries to criticize political figures. An artist or author can satirize an individual or a group. Satire often employs exaggeration. In order to make it very clear which qualities, habits, or flaws are being criticized, the author makes them bigger so that they will be obvious. Satire: Making a point (usually funny) by using sarcasm, irony, parody, or ridicule In this packet, we will learn what sarcasm, irony, and ridicule are, and then we will spend quite a bit of time learning about the art form of parody.

2 IRONY Irony happens when a situation is ironic. An ironic situation or outcome is the humorous opposite of what you would expect. Example of irony Cable had been scouting the country alone for three years with readings from his novels, and he had been a good reader in the beginning for he had been born with a natural talent for it, but unhappily he prepared himself for his public work by taking lessons from a teacher of elocution, and so by the time he was ready to begin his platform work he was so well and thoroughly educated that he was merely theatrical and artificial and not half as pleasing and entertaining to a house as he had been in the splendid days of his ignorance. Other quotes by Mark Twain: - Mark Twain in Eruption Classic. A book which people praise and don t read. Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example. Packet Task #1: Choose one of these quotes and answer these questions: What is Twain making fun of? What is his point? How does he use irony?

3 SARCASM People use sarcasm when they say the opposite of what they really mean. Example of sarcasm (underlined) She came to school wearing a day-glow acrylic sweater in the pattern of the American flag. Little red sequins were sewn on here and there, just in case it wasn t already bright enough. Her pants were snakevomit green, polyester double-knit. And too short, so that her bear ankles and flip-flops were fully visible. This lovely ensemble, as you can imagine, brought her a great deal of attention. RIDICULE Ridicule is mocking, humorously criticizing, or otherwise making fun of someone. Ridicule is just plain old mean. Example of ridicule Her fashion sense was so tragically horrible and she was so stubbornly insistent on dressing to her own little drummer, that her friends, the few she had, often required her to walk separately on trips to the mall.

4 Satire: Parody Parody is a form of satire in which the satirist makes fun of people by imitating them and making them look bad. par o dy 1.humorous or satirical imitation of a serious piece of literature or writing: his hilarious parody of Hamlet's soliloquy. 3.any humorous, satirical, or burlesque imitation, as of a person, event, etc. Example: The townsfolk of Rocklinberg suspect Mayor Biscomb of lyng repeatedly, creating fake construction projects to give to his brother, a contractor. Some citizens are beginning to suspect that these projects are not even necessary. The local newspaper, The Daily Whisker, publishes an article by a local humorist who pretends to be Mayor Biscomb. However, it is heavily exaggerated so that readers will know it s not really written by the mayor. The way the author imitates the politician makes him/her look sneaky and dishonest. Whereas the politician s real behavior is quite subtle but suspicious, his behavior in the parody shows one big, obvious lie after another. The reader enjoys the humor wile also getting the message that the author believes Biscomb to be a liar. Packet Task #2: List one or more shows, movies, songs, or comic strips that you think contains a parody, or an author/artist/performer you know of who often uses some form of satire. Justify your answer.

5 Packet Task #3: Select a victim from the list below, or choose one of your own. Write a substantial parody of him/her/them. Remember that a parody is almost always exaggerated. A teacher, or teachers in general A parent, or parents in general A singer/musician or a type of musical performer (ex: rappers, schmaltzy ballad singers) A politician, or politicians in general A person you know A type of person you know (ex: snobby kids, lazy kids, people who are annoying in a specific way, etc.) Packet Task #4: Write a humorous piece in which you use each of the following at least once: sarcasm, irony, and ridicule.