Satire Vocab

Satire

A genre of literature that uses humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to criticize or mock individuals, institutions, or societal norms.

Irony

A contrast between what is said and what is meant, or between what is expected and what actually occurs.

Exaggeration (Hyperbole)

The act of representing something as greater, more intense, or more extreme than it is for emphasis or comedic effect.

Parody

An imitation of a style, genre, or work that deliberately exaggerates or distorts it for comic or critical effect.

Caricature

An exaggerated portrayal of a person or thing, focusing on distinctive features or qualities to create a comic or grotesque effect.

Sarcasm

A form of verbal irony where a person says the opposite of what they mean, often in a mocking tone.

Juvenalian Satire

A form of satire characterized by harsh, bitter, and often critical tones, aimed at exposing corruption or vice.

Horatian Satire

A more lighthearted form of satire that gently mocks or criticizes with a humorous or whimsical tone.

Absurdity

The presentation of something as illogical or nonsensical, often used to highlight the ridiculousness of a situation or system.

Lampoon

A public ridicule or criticism of someone or something, usually attacking their character or behavior.

Mockery

The act of ridiculing or mocking someone or something in a contemptuous way.

Understatement

A form of expression that deliberately makes something seem less important or smaller than it really is, often used for irony or humor.

Sardonic

A form of biting, scornful, and often mocking humor, meant to show contempt or disdain.

Moral Fable

A short, fictional story used to convey a moral lesson, often used in satire to criticize social behaviors or norms.

Reversal

A technique in satire where roles, situations, or norms are flipped to expose contradictions or absurdities in the social order.

Miscegenation

Historically used in satire to criticize or highlight racial issues or tensions, particularly the mixing of races.

Anachronism

The inclusion of something that is out of its proper time period, often used in satire to highlight the absurdity or inconsistency of a situation.

Absurdism

A philosophical approach in literature that emphasizes the futility and irrationality of human existence, often used in satirical works to criticize society's contradictions.

Dark Humor

Humor that finds comedic elements in subjects that are typically considered serious, morbid, or taboo, often used in satire to criticize uncomfortable truths.

Pastiche

A work of art or literature that imitates the style of another work or genre, typically in a satirical or playful way, blending elements from multiple sources.

Cynicism

An attitude of skepticism or disillusionment about the motives of others, often expressed in satire to criticize the perceived hypocrisy or selfishness in individuals or society.

Expository Satire

Satire that aims to expose societal flaws or issues without resorting to humor, often using more direct and serious critique.

Jingoism

Extreme patriotism, often expressed in a satirical way to mock aggressive nationalism or the belief in the superiority of one's country over others.

Double Entendre

A figure of speech in which a phrase has two meanings, one of which is often risqué or ironic, used in satire for comedic or critical effect.

Euphemism

The use of a milder or less direct expression in place of one that may be considered too harsh or blunt, often used in satire to point out the hypocrisy or softening of serious issues.

Stereotype

A widely held but oversimplified and generalized belief or idea about a particular group, often used in satire to criticize how society reduces individuals to simplistic categories.

Tragicomedy

A genre that blends elements of tragedy and comedy, sometimes used in satire to highlight the absurdity of life's tragic aspects with humor.

Tautology

The repetitive use of words or phrases that essentially mean the same thing, often employed in satire to mock the redundancy or pointlessness of certain arguments or statements.

Mimesis

The imitation of the real world or nature in art, often used in satire to exaggerate or distort reality to highlight its flaws or contradictions.

Victimization

The portrayal of someone as a victim of an unjust or oppressive system, often used in satire to highlight societal problems and inequalities.

Hegemony

The dominance or control of one group over others, often critiqued in satirical works that expose the exploitation of the powerless by those in power.

Didacticism

The use of literature or art to teach a lesson, often in a way that is moralizing or instructive, which can be used in satirical works to mock overly preachy or self-righteous behavior.

Scapegoating

The act of unfairly blaming an individual or group for larger issues, often satirized to critique how society targets minorities or vulnerable groups as a way to deflect responsibility.

Explanatory Satire

A type of satire that focuses on explaining the flaws or absurdities of a subject, often through exaggeration, sarcasm, or irony.

Bureaucracy

A system of government or management that is highly organized and procedural but often criticized in satire for being inefficient, impersonal, or overly complicated.

Polemics

Strong, often controversial arguments or attacks against a particular idea, person, or institution, often used in satire to critique political, social, or cultural ideologies.

Aphorism

A concise statement that expresses a general truth or principle, often used in satirical writing to criticize common beliefs or assumptions.

Ad Hominem

A logical fallacy where an argument is directed at a person's character rather than their argument, often used in satirical works to expose the flaws in debate or discussion.

Moral Relativism

The belief that moral truths are not absolute but are shaped by culture or personal perspectives, often satirized to challenge the inconsistencies or contradictions in moral arguments.

Cliché

An overused or stereotypical phrase or idea that lacks originality, often satirized to mock the predictability or emptiness of certain expressions or thoughts.