What is satire?
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Start free in the Plan studio- Satire criticizes folly or vice through humor and exaggeration.
- It targets people, institutions, or society.
- It uses irony, parody, and ridicule as tools.
- It usually has a corrective or critical intent.
- It ranges from gentle to savage.
Satire is a literary form that uses humor, irony, exaggeration, and ridicule to criticize and expose folly, vice, or corruption — in individuals, institutions, or society at large. Behind the comedy is usually a serious, corrective intent: satire holds a target up to mockery to provoke awareness or change. It ranges from gentle and affectionate to savage and biting. Effective satire requires a clear target and a controlling point of view, so the ridicule lands as critique rather than mere mockery.
Chapter i·Why it matters
Satire is a powerful tradition for social and political commentary through fiction, and understanding it helps writers wield humor with purpose. Knowing that satire targets folly with corrective intent — and depends on a clear target and controlling perspective — distinguishes meaningful satire from random mockery. For writers drawn to using comedy to critique the world, grasping how satire works is essential to making the laughter carry weight.
Chapter ii·What to include
- Criticism of folly or vice.
- Humor, irony, and exaggeration as tools.
- Targets: people, institutions, society.
- A corrective or critical intent.
- A range from gentle to savage.
- A clear target and point of view.
Chapter iii·Example
A novel satirizes corporate culture by exaggerating its absurdities to comic extremes — meaningless jargon, soulless rituals — with a clear target and a sharp underlying critique. The humor exposes the folly it depicts, provoking the reader to see it freshly. The laughter carries a serious point, which is what makes it satire rather than mere comedy.
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Chapter iv·Related questions