"Satire is stealthy criticism." -Wikipedia

Satire tries to persuade the reader to believe or to do something by showing the opposite view as absurd, vicious, or inhumane. Satire is partially so complex, because it addresses multiple audiences at once, with multiple intents.

There are three audiences:

1. Those whom the author (or artist) believes to already be in agreement with their viewpoint. (aka those on your side)

2. Those whom the author (or artist) would like to ridicule for their opposing viewpoint. (aka those whom you will stealthily ridicule)

3. Those whom the author (or artist) believes may be persuaded through exposure to the satirical work. (aka the "swing" audience)

So, in keeping with the three audiences above, there are three intents for the author:

1. To show yourself intelligent and accomplished to those on your side.

2. To make those whom you disagree with look foolish.

3. To persuade to your point of view, those who are intelligent enough to understand irony and recognize the ridiculous (thereby "swinging" them to your side).

This is accomplished using some or all of the following techniques:

tone: attitude of the writer toward his/her subject

wit: humor in order to criticize, verbal cleverness

sarcasm: use of language to hurt or ridicule; not subtle

burlesque: work that ridicules people, or actions by mimickry and exaggeration

parody: humorous imitation of serious works

double entendre: similar to pun, a phrase that can be understood in either of two ways.

zeugma: one word modifies or governs two or more words with different senses.

       "He was deep in thought and debt."

       "Doth sometimes counsel take and sometime tea." -Pope

irony:

    verbal irony: meaning is different, often opposite, from what it says, a contrast between what is stated and what is meant

        understatement - describing a flooded area as "slightly soggy"

        inflation/deflation - "Wretches hang that jurymen may dine." -Pope

        antithesis - juxtaposition in one line of opposing ideas

        exaggeration/hyperbole - "It was 250% in the subway" to describe a location

    situational irony: what actually happens is the opposite of what is expected or appropriate

    dramatic irony: reader knows something important that a character does not know

    Socratic irony: named after Socrates. Presenting a willingness to learn, for the sake of exposing an opponents errors.

    Cosmic irony: when a deity, or fate, is represented as though deliberately manipulating events so as to lead the protagonist to false hopes,             only to frustrate and mock them.

Why I hate literature, and why you should too...

The other day I was busy exploring the depths of the Internet, appreciating it's glory and ability to spread around thoughts and ideas. But out of nowhere, I stumbled upon a most disturbing piece of information. Apparently, there are places where you can go and read books.

That's right. Some depraved lunatics had the idea... Read more

There are many sources of literary satire... Wikipedia has a list they've compiled, but there are others. Also, just because an author has created a work of satire, doesn't mean that all of their works are satirical.

"techniques" adapted from worksheet from B. Hoklin; "audiences" and "intents" adapted from class notes, "Age of Satire," taught by D. Ritchie of Bethel University.