Satire

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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.

The best ways to present satire is either through incongruity, parody, reversals, or exaggeration. When a writer presents incongruity, there are elements that are out of place, and they shouldn’t be there. This not only brings the attention on that item/idea but also shows how ridiculous it really is. This feeling is what inspires the change and without it, satire would not have been accomplished. If parody is used, the target of the satire is imitated in some absurd way. Some examples will do this with the object’s style; others will imitate techniques that make the audience realize how crazy and outrageous they really are. Once again this is the reason why it works, because it inspires the change in the target of the satire. Third, if reversals are used, the normal order of things is presented opposite of what they should be. This can be accomplished in roles, order of events, or even hierarchical order. This brings the attention on it specifically and shows absurdity, also inspiring change. The last method is exaggeration, where aspects are enlarged beyond reality in order to show its faults. This makes the audience dwell on the problems, and therefore what is needed to change it.

As already men...

... middle of paper ...

... our society and without them, we would fall into our own stupidity.

Works Cited

Barry, Dave. "Up a Tree." MiamiHerald.com. Web. 14 Feb. 2012.

Bearman. "Bearman Cartoon 2012 End of the World Again." Faq2012, End of the World 2012? Bearmancartoons. Web. 14 Feb. 2012.

Golding, William. Lord of the Flies. New York: The Putnam Publishing Group, 1954. Print.

Harris, Robert. "The Purpose and Method of Satire." VirtualSalt. Web. 13 Feb. 2012.

n/d "Definition: Satire." Webster's Online Dictionary. Web. 10 Feb. 2012.

n/d. "Jonathan Swift - A Modest Proposal." The Art Bin Magazine. Web. 13 Feb. 2012.

n/d. "New Biography Reveals Einstein Devised Theory Of Relativity On Paper Because He Wasn't Smart Enough To Invent Microsoft Word." The Onion - America's Finest News Source. Web. 14 Feb. 2012.

Nordquist, Richard. "Satire." Grammar and Composition. Web. 10 Feb. 2012.

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