Types of Satire 

==Satire Definition==

  • In literature, satire is a genre that employs humor and irony to criticize the stupidity and shortcomings of individuals or groups of people.

 

  • Historically, the technique has been particularly successful whenever applied to politics and politicians.

 

  • But satire isn’t intended to merely poke fun at its subject; the point of ridiculing a person or population is to, hopefully, inspire them to change their ways.

 

  • Modern examples of satire can be found in popular shows such as The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, Saturday Night Live, and even The Simpsons.

 

==3 Types of Satire==

The three most common types of satire each have their own distinct qualities, and even vary in levels of harshness. While some seek to simply poke some innocent fun, others view their subjects as evils that must be stopped.

 

==1. Horatian Satire==

Of the three types of satire, Horatian satire (named for the Roman satirist Horace) is the most gentle and sympathetic toward its subject.

 

Through light-hearted (and often self-deprecating) humor, Horatian satirists address issues that they view more as follies, rather than evil.

 

This kind of satire rarely includes personal attacks, but rather aims to promote morals and teach lessons.

 

%%Examples of Horatian satire include:%%

 

  • Saturday Night Live
  • Dr. Strangelove
  • The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
  • Gulliver’s Travels

==2. Juvenalian Satire==

The second type of satire, Juvenalian, is generally less kind toward its subject than Horatian.

 

Juvenalian satirists don’t just see their subject’s actions as wrong or silly, but as evil. Their style, then, contains less traditional humor and more sarcasm and strong irony.

 

It is in this kind of satire that we can really see the writer’s objections and their call for change.

 

%%Examples of Juvenalian satire include:%%

 

  • A Clockwork Orange
  • 1984
  • Animal Farm
  • Fahrenheit 451

==3. Menippean Satire==

Menippean satire targets mental attitudes and viewpoints, rather than specific individuals.

 

Though not as harsh as Juvenalian satire, Menippean satirists often target what they see as harmful attitudes, such as racism, sexism, or just plain arrogance.

 

%%Examples of Menippean satire include:%%

 

  • Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
  • Cat’s Cradle
  • The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
  • Finnegans Wake

@@Satire vs. Parody@@

  • Parody mimics a familiar style or concept, usually by placing it in a new context or giving it a ridiculous subject.

 

  • While parody can sometimes be used to develop satire, there is a key difference between the two.

 

  • Whereas satire aims to inspire action or change, parody is used primarily for comedic effect.

 

  • The Rutles, for example, started as a group that parodied The Beatles. Similarly, Vampires Suck is a film that parodies the popular Twilight films and books.

 

  • You should be able to distinguish parody from satire by examining a work’s motives.