Animal Farm - Key words and Definitions

Sarcasm

the use of irony to mock or convey contempt

Sardonic

disdainfully or ironically humorous

Urbane

courteous and refined in manner

Wit

the capacity for inventive thought and quick understanding

Parody

an imitation of the style of a particular writing

mocking

making fun of someone or something in a cruel way

ridicule

the subjection of someone or something to contemptuous and dismissive language or behaviour

caricature

a picture, description, or imitation of a person in which certain striking characteristics are exaggerated in order to create a comic or grotesque effect

epigram

a pithy saying or remark expressing an idea in a clever and amusing way

anachronism

something belonging or appropriate to a period other than that in which it exists or is portrayed

farce

a comic dramatic work using buffoonery and horseplay and typically including crude characterization and ludicrously improbable situations

facetious

treating serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humour

self-depricating

modest about or critical of oneself, especially humorously so

tongue-in-cheek

a statement or remark that is humorous, ironic, or not meant to be taken seriously

verbal irony

a figure of speech in which the literal meaning of what someone says is different from—and often opposite to—what they actually mean

dramatic irony

a plot device that highlights the difference between a character's understanding of a given situation, and that of the audience

situational irony

an unexpected, paradoxical, or perverse turn of events

paradox

a seemingly absurd or contradictory statement or proposition which when investigated may prove to be well founded or true

litotes

ironic understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by the negative of its contrary

hyperbole

exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally

juxtaposition

the fact of two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect

double entendre

a word or phrase that is open to two interpretations, one of which is usually risqué or indecent

incongruity

the state of being incongruous

malapropism

the mistaken use of a word in place of a similar-sounding one, often with an amusing effect

invective

insulting, abusive, or highly critical language