The Age of Satire: Literature as Social Reform

Flashcards covering the Age of Satire, Jonathan Swift's A Modest Proposal, Restoration Comedy, and Mock-Epic forms based on the lecture slides.

How did writers during the Age of Satire approach understanding human behavior?

They used logic and careful observation based on the belief that human behavior never changes.

What intellectual foundation gave birth to the Age of Satire?

A commitment to rational inquiry and moral observation, which made comedy the vehicle for truth.

What is the literary definition of satire?

The literary art of belittling a subject by making it funny and ridiculous, expressing amusement or disgust in equal measure.

What is the main purpose of satire?

To acknowledge societal problems and attempt reform through comedy, while educating the public on serious issues of the day.

How does satire deliver its criticism compared to direct expressions of dislike?

It uses humor rather than direct expressions of hatred or dislike, hiding its sting inside laughter.

What crisis does Jonathan Swift's A Modest Proposal confront?

The devastating famine crisis gripping Ireland, which was largely ignored by those in power.

What method did Jonathan Swift use in A Modest Proposal to highlight social problems?

He used dark, unflinching humor to propose the absurd as a mirror to the unconscionable.

What was the primary effect of Jonathan Swift's satire in A Modest Proposal?

It shocked readers into awareness, using comedy as a Trojan horse for urgent social reform.

How did playwrights use Restoration comedy to influence public opinion?

They incorporated satire into plays to expose and critique social injustices, turning the theatre into a court of public opinion.

What did Restoration comedy accomplish over a thirty-year period?

It 'laid bare the turbulence and toxins of this culture' by depicting its excesses and depravities without flinching.

How did theatre promote social awareness during the Restoration period?

It taught people about real-life problems by showing society who they really were and how to become better.

How is a mock-epic defined?

Epic form applied to trivial subjects, borrowing the grandeur of Homer and Virgil to ridicule the petty vanities of contemporary life.

What techniques are characteristic of a mock-epic?

Irony, overstatement, and pointed criticism.

What was the ultimate effect of using the mock-epic form?

It delivered a funny yet insightful cultural and religious critique.