Types of Satire Flashcards
(12 cards)
Hyperbole
Overstating or overdramatizing for effect.
Exaggerated claims or statements that are not meant to be taken literally
Ex. “It’s raining cats and dogs”
Incongruity
Presenting something completely absurd and unexpected in an otherwise normal context.
Ex. A baby wearing a three piece suit and running a board meeting.
Juxtaposition
Two opposites placed together in contrast
Situational Irony
Situational irony is when the anticipated outcome or experience of something is subverted somehow, creating a stark contrast between our expectations and reality.
Examples:
A fire station burning down
Someone’s dog actually eating their homework
Posting on Instagram about how social media is a waste of time
Verbal Irony
Verbal irony is when a speaker says something and means the opposite, creating a break between the literal meaning and the intended meaning. Sarcasm is a common example of verbal irony. In general, verbal irony involves using either understatement or overstatement. Verbal irony must be intentional on the speaker’s part.
Dramatic Irony
Dramatic irony occurs when readers or audiences know something crucial that characters do not. This creates a tension between our understanding of the situation and the characters’, and gives the reader or audience a sense of suspense and/or heightened awareness.
Examples:
When watching the film Titanic, we know that the ship will hit the iceberg though the characters do not.
Understatement
Presenting something as being less serious or severe than is warranted under the circumstances
Ex. Mercutio from Romeo and Juliet holding his fatal wound and saying “a scratch”
Stereotype
A widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing. Satire often plays around with and subverts stereotypes.
Ex. A portrayal of white cisgendered heterosexual men as oppressed.
Reversal
Presented the opposite of the expected standard or order. Satirical reversals often highlight human absurdities.
Ex. A dog walking a human on a leash
Paradox
List all the types of satirical devices we learned:
- Hyperbole
- Incongruity
- Juxtaposition
- Situational Irony
- Verbal Irony
- Dramatic Irony
- Understatement
- Stereotype
- Reversal
- Paradox
Irony
The tension created by the simultaneous existence of exact opposites.
There are different types of irony: Verbal, Situational, and Dramatic Ex. The titanic was called an “unsinkable” ship
