Satirical Terms

Technique

Example

Exaggeration: to present something as better or worse than it is

To enlarge beyond normal to ridiculousness so faults can be seen.

. Donkey being worried about Shrek & saying he’s going to die

. The bird blowing up after singing

. The frog and snake being blown up into balloons

. All the newspapers talking of the fish mutation

. Also the newspapers talking about Burns spitting out the fish/ relates to over analyzation of media

Burlesque: an absurd or comically exaggerated imitation of something, especially in a literary or dramatic work; a parody. Ridiculous exaggeration of language.

. The merry men singing in their accents

. The whole campaign of Burns is an exaggeration of real like political campaigns

Caricature: an exaggeration or distortion, usually comical, of specific (physical) aspects of a subject; used in both descriptive writing and visual arts

. The merry men singing

.Shrek himself is a caricature of a monster

. Burns is a caricature of ceos and political campaigners

. All people are generally caricatures of people

Epigram - a short and concise witty statement

. Better out than in I always say

. Burns’ poll director telling him how many votes he has

. Lisa talking about the Kennedy’s at dinner was a parody

.Quote for bribery money 

. Burns can’t swallow his own story

Incongruity- To present things that are out of place or are absurd in relation to its surroundings.

. Fiona being a martial arts expert even though she’s supposed to be in distress

. Merry men breaking out into the river dance

. The plutonium rod and other aspects of the nuclear plant that are crazy 

Invective — writing that attacks, insults, or denounces a person, topic, or institution. It usually involves abusive or negative language. 

. Fiona fighting off the people trying to take her

. Fiona talking down Robinhood 

. Robinhood calls Shrek a beast

. Bart asking who the journalist is 

Irony: expressing meaning by using ideas that typically describe the opposite of what is being expressed.

Verbal: Saying one thing and meaning another

(sarcasm)

Dramatic: the reader knows something that the characters do not 

Situational: one thing is expected to happen but the opposite happens

. “This would be so much easier if I wasn’t colorblind”

. Donkey not knowing that he’s not doing anything important

. The viewer knows how insane Burns’ plan actually is, unbeknownst to the campaign itself

.Saying that Burns is noble in defeat, when in reality he’s a mess

. Homer’s dad saying that he thinks younger campaigners is great in response to seeing Burns’ campaign

.Signs saying clean up your own mess when there was a mess everywhere

.Homer convinces Burns to run for governor

Parody: An imitation of a particular artist, work, or genre, that is usually exaggerated for humor.

. Fiona parodying the Matrix during the kung fu scene

. “Liberty leading the people”  painting parody when Burns is getting makeup

Pun: A joke based on a play on words where words that sound similar but have different meanings are swapped out.

. Robinhood saying paid

. Fishing hole or fission hole

Reductio ad absurdum (reduce to absurdity): Arguing something by showing the absurdity of the other side

. Shows the absurdity of what the nuclear plant is pushing to promote itself. The absurdity of the opposing governor is pushed rather than the real absurdity of Burns’ campaign (overall showing how the American political situation - Ex. Darwin sequence/ comparison to elephant and the fish - Mr. Burns’ campaign argument)

Reduction: Belittle satirical target, using caricature to appear ridiculous or silly

. Robinhood tries to save Fiona but instead beats them up

. The character of Burns belittles politicians

Reversal: To present the opposite of the normal order. Can focus on the order of events or a hierarchy. 

. Fiona burping after Shrek did and fighting

.Fiona is not a damsel

. Expecting Marge and Homer to fight when Homer actually begs