AP English: Satire and irony

Burlesque

An artistic composition that for the sake of laughter vulgarizes lofty material or treats ordinary material with mock dignity

High burlesque

When a ridiculous trivial subject is treated in a serious manner

Low burlesque

A serious subject is treated comically with mock disrespect

Satire

Any literary composition used to ridicule anyone anything with the intent to bring about change and or improvement

Censor evasion

Pleased in mocking others and getting away with it

Tendency wit

Release of one’s dark side

Satire: Horace

Seeks to primarily to amuse allowing the audience to laugh with the target

Satire: Juvenation

Seeks to create outrage and cause the reader to laugh at the target

Mock epic (high burlesque)

A humorous depiction of an absurd hero’s adventurous and glorious deeds

Parody

A comical imitation of an author’s or artist’s style; usually imitates very influential works

Lampoon

A satire ridiculing a specific person; a harsh personal attack on a recognizable target which focuses on the target’s character or appearance

Allegory

Characters and settings represent philosophical concepts and moral qualities; serves as an extended metaphor and teach a moral lesson

Parable

Usually short fictitious story that illustrates a moral attitude or a religious principle; type of allegory

Beast fable

Animals and birds speak and behave like human beings in a short tale usually illustrating some moral point; type of allegorical writing

Irony

The use of words to express something other than and especially the opposite of the literal meaning

Verbal irony

Say one thing and mean another

Situational irony

What happens is the opposite of what is expected or appropriate

Dramatic irony

When the reader/ audience knows something important that a character does not know

Incongruity

The heart of irony; the linking together of opposites to create an effect or point

Sarcasm

From the Greek meaning “to tear flesh”