1.Satire Unit Mr. Varnum Honors British Literature January
2008
2. Definition
Satire
A kind of writing that ridicules human weakness, vice or folly
in order to bring about a change in society.
"Satires often try to persuade the reader to do or believe
something by showing the opposite view as absurd or -- even more
forcefully -- vicious and inhumane" - Elements of Literature, Sixth
Course, Literature of Britain and World Classics (1201).
3. Modern Examples
Family Guy
The Simpsons
Saturday Night Live
Meet the Spartans
Not Another Teen Movie
Shrek
Others?
4. What aspects of society doesThe Simpsonsridicule? 5. Tools of
a satirist
Irony (verbal and situational)
Hyperbole
Understatement
Sarcasm
Double Entendre
Parody (imitation of work of art for amusement or
instruction)
6. What tools does the creator ofThe Simpsonsuse to satirize
society? 7. What we will read
The Restoration and the Eighteenth Century (467-484)
Swift Bio (486)
Gullivers Travels(487-501)
A Modest Proposal (502-513)
Jonathan Swift 1667-1745 www.gutenberg.org 8. What we will
watch
This is Spinal Tap(1984)
A rockumentary
Satirizes the rock and roll industry
9. What you will do
Watch the film and complete a Type II response at the
conclusion.
Read the Swift satires and complete all Reading Check questions
by February 4/5.
Write an essay explaining what he ridicules and how he does it
due on February 11/12.
Essay assignment can be found at
http://tvarnum.edublogs.org