Warm-up: Copy these notes
1. Irony: The ability to recognize irony, one of the
chief elements in satire, is a sure test of intelligence and sophistication. Those who read only
for literal meaning are apt to misinterpret an ironic tone. A writer’s ironic tone may seem
unemotional and detached from the material,
whereas he/she is more than likely disguising deeper feelings, or real outrage and moral indignation.
Among the devices writers use to achieve irony are: 1)Hyperbole: exaggeration for emphasis or humorous effect 2) Understatement: a statement
that says less than is actually or literally true 3) Sarcasm: a critical,
contemptuous statement expressed as verbal irony 4)
Incongruity: the result
of combining inappropriate or unfitting elements
In addition to “ironic,” some tone words that
characterize satire are: facetious, mocking, flippant, indignant, vehement, and bitter.
2. Verisimilitude: This is the appearance or semblance
of truth in literature, achieved when details, however far-fetched, give the appearance of truth
and sweep the reader, for the moment at least, into an acceptance of them.
3. Structure: The organization of a satire may be
carefully structured to build to a point or create suspense. It may also mimic the original in a type of
satire called parody. In other words, the satirist, like all good writers, organizes in
way that helps make his/her point.
4. Style: Diction: Satirists may choose words that are
deliberately shocking to the reader. They may also mimic or parody the work or person being
satirized.
5. Theme: The primary target of satire is a problem the
writer wants the audience to recognize and/or change. The issue may be social, political, or
cultural.
Classwork: turn in Swift classwork (from last Friday) and green essay revisions), discuss expectations for synthesis prompts due tomorrow (15 minutes of group time to work on questions/citing sources); discuss Swift and what we have learned about satire; go over the steps to write a satire and begin writing
1). Choose the vice or folly
2). Choose the target audience to help create the
appropriate language (rhetorical triangle)
3). Consider and choose a minimum of at least 3 of the
elements that develop a satirical writing (see
satire handout for devices to use)
4). Develop at least 3 well developed paragraphs that
fully address the above information where the
writer would be able to complete a rhetorical analysis of your writing in addition to
being able to pick out the SOAPSTone and devices used to create the satire.
5). Once complete, you will indicate the following:
~highlight/label where you have used the 3 minimum
satirical devices
~Separate from the essay, identify the vice/folly used,
the targeted audience and a direct statement of your purpose.
Homework: synthesis prompt due tomorrow (2nd checkpoint)
