Satire Terms - AP Lit

sarcasm

words that mean the opposite of what the speaker truly intends to say, especially in order to criticize, mock, or convey contempt, often with the intention of being humorous

sardonic

a style of mocking, cynical, or scornful humor that is often bitter, biting, and contemptuous

parody

a creative work that humorously imitates the style of a specific, existing work, author, artist, or genre in order to make fun of or comment on the original

Eg: Weird Al

mocking (tone)

making fun of someone or something in a cruel way; derisive.

ridicule

the subjection of someone or something to contemptuous and dismissive language or behavior.

lampoon

the subjection of someone or something to contemptuous and dismissive language or behavior.

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 short, clever, memorable saying or poem that expresses a witty, surprising, or satirical idea

farce

a type of comedy that uses exaggerated characters and highly improbable or ridiculous situations to entertain an audience, primarily through physical humor and absurdity.

facetious

treating serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humor; flippant.

self-deprecating

the act of belittling or undervaluing oneself, often through humor, to appear more relatable or humble

tongue-in-cheek

describes something said or done humorously, ironically, or sarcastically, but presented as if serious, meaning it shouldn't be taken literally, often involving a subtle joke or playful mockery

urbane

Notable polite or polished manner

irony

the expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect.

paradox

a statement, situation, or idea that seems contradictory or absurd but, upon closer examination, reveals a deeper truth, often challenging logic and prompting deeper thought, like "less is more" or "the only constant is change".

understatement

a literary device or figure of speech where something is described as less important, serious, or intense than it actually is, often

hyperbole

A great exaggeration

burlesque

ridicules a subject by presenting a ludicrous or grotesque imitation, creating humor through the disparity between the style and the subject matter

verisimilitude

Elements that give the appearance of being true or real.

synecdoche

a figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole

mock epic

a satirical literary work that uses the grand style, conventions, and elevated language of classical epic poetry but applies them to trivial, absurd, or everyday subjects, creating humor through the ironic contrast, often to comment satirically on society or literature

iambic pentameter

a poetic rhythm with five "feet" per line, each foot being an "iamb"—two syllables, with the first unstressed and the second stressed (da-DUM)—creating ten syllables per line that sound like a heartbeat

metonym

the substitution of the name of an attribute or adjunct for that of the thing meant,

horatian satire

Satire that is light hearted, fun, impersonal

augustan verse

English poetry of the early 18th century, named after the Roman Emperor Augustus's classical "golden age," characterized by wit, satire, order, and imitation of Latin poets like Virgil, using the balanced heroic couplet (iambic pentameter couplets) to critique society, express reason, and promote moral instruction

zeugma

a figure of speech in which a word applies to two others in different senses

website example: “She broke his car and his heart.” (Broke applies to both the physical object and the emotional state.)

juvenalian satire

Satie that is bitting, harsh, and bitter. Often targets a specific person, group, or institution.

novella

a work of narrative prose fiction longer than a short story but shorter than a novel, typically 20,000 to 40,000 words, offering focused depth on fewer characters, themes, and conflicts than a novel, balancing brevity with detailed exploration, often covering a central event or idea without complex subplots or multiple POVs

cantos

one of the sections into which certain long poems are divided.

incongruent

Elements that are not matching

picaresque

relating to an episodic style of fiction dealing with the adventures of a rough and dishonest but appealing hero.

overstatement

the action of expressing or stating something too strongly; exaggeration.