Satire terms

Uses humor, irony, or exaggeration to criticize human flaws or society
Example: Fake article mocking school stress

Satire

Gentle, playful satire that laughs at human foolishness
Example: Light jokes about procrastination

Horatian

Harsh, angry satire attacking serious moral or social issues
Example: Bitter criticism of political corruption

Juvenalian

Satire that attacks ideas, beliefs, or mindsets
Example: Mocking the belief that money solves everything

Menippean

Overstating something for effect
Example: “I studied all night”

Exaggeration

Extreme, impossible exaggeration
Example: “This bag weighs a ton”

Hyperbole

Putting things together that don’t belong
Example: Toddlers running a courtroom

Incongruity

Switching expected roles or situations
Example: Students grading teachers

Reversal

Imitating a style or genre to mock it
Example: A movie making fun of superhero clichés

Parody

Exaggerating a person’s traits to show flaws
Example: A politician drawn with a huge mouth

Caricature

A harsh, direct attack on a person or institution
Example: A brutal satirical article mocking a celebrity

Lampoon

Mocking statement where the opposite is meant
Example: “Great job” to someone who failed

Sarcasm

Humor created by exaggerated or inappropriate style
Example: A school announcement acted like a drama

Burlesque

A serious subject treated in a silly or disrespectful way
Example: A historical tragedy turned into a cartoon

Travesty

A joke based on wordplay
Example: “I lost interest at the bank”

Pun

A phrase with two meanings, often suggestive
Example: “That’s a hard problem”

Double Entendre

→ Saying the opposite of what you mean
Example: “Lovely weather” during a storm

verbal irony

→ Audience knows something characters don’t
Example: We know a character will fail, but they don’t

Dramatic irony

→ Outcome is opposite of what’s expected
Example: A fire station burns down

Situational irony

→ Clever, quick, intelligent humor
Example: A sharp one-liner exposing hypocrisy

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