Theme and Satire

ELA 11

Theme
Each story has a theme!
After reading a story, watching a movie, hearing a song, etc., think to yourself what you learned about life from it.
Thats the theme!

Theme is the life lesson the story is meant to present to the reader.
Think of it like the message in a fortune cookie that passes advice onto its readers in a short, but complete, thought.

It must be universal- everyone should be able to learn something from it

Theme
The Theme is rarely stated in the text instead, the reader must usually consider the plot, characters, and setting to infer the theme.

Theme
Theme is often confused with other literary elements such as Plot or Topic (or Subject)
However, the Theme of a piece of literature is a message about people, life, and the world we live in that the author wants the reader to understand. The Topic, on the other hand, is the main idea or gist of the story.

Subject/Topic vs. Theme

For example, think about the Topic and Theme of the classic story Cinderella.
If you are describing the TOPIC, you might say it is a story about a poor girl who marries a prince.

But if you are describing the THEME, it could be described as an example of karma or good things happening to good people.

Theme vs. Subject

The Wizard of Oz

Topic
A girl goes on an adventure in a magic land.

Theme(s)
Friendship Appreciate What You Already have Things You Seek Are Already Inside You

Setting vs. Theme

Similarly, somebody might describe the themeof The Things They Carried as war.
War is the setting not the theme!

Examples
Which of the following is the THEME of Horton Hears a Who? A. An elephant struggles to save a community. B. Elephants have very good hearing. C. True friendship knows no boundaries.

Which of the following is the THEME of The Tortoise and the Hare?
A. Friendship is magic B. You should be able to run faster. C. Perseverance pays off.

Ambiguous Theme
When a theme can be interpreted in more than one way.
There can be more than one theme in a given story.

Satire

Satire is a literary genre that uses irony, wit, and sometimes sarcasm to expose humanitys vices and foibles, giving impetus, or momentum, to change or reform through ridicule.

It is a manner of writing that mixes a critical attitude with wit and humor in an effort to improve mankind and human institutions.

Satire
While some writers and commentators use a serious tone to persuade their audiences to accept their perspective on various issues, some writers specifically use humor to convey a serious message.

Satire

Types of Satire
Horatian: gentle, sympathetic form of satire. Mildly mocks the subject. The audience is asked to laugh at themselves as much as the players.

Horation Example

Types of Satire
Juvenalian/juvenille: harsh and bitter satire

Often, it seeks to address some evil in society through scorn and ridicule. The Juvenalian satirist approaches his work in a more serious manner and uses dignified language to attack incorrect thinking or vice. In this way Juvenalian satire evokes feelings of scorn, shock, and righteous indignation in the mind of the reader.

Juvenalian Satire

Types of Satirists
Optimist
Likes people, but thinks they are rather blind and foolish Tells the truth with a smile Cures people of their ignorance Writes in order to heal

Pessimist
Loves individuals, hates mankind Aim is to wound, to punish, to destroy Juvenalian satire

The Onion

Characteristics/Forms of Satire
Irony

Irony is a mode of expression, through words (verbal irony) or events (irony of situation), conveying a reality different from- and usually opposite to-appearance or expectation.

The surprise recognition by the audience often produces a comic effect, making irony often funny.

Example

Hyperbole and Sarcasm

Hyperbole is deliberate exaggeration to achieve an effect; overstatement.

Sarcasm is intentional derision, generally directed at another person and intended to hurt.

The term comes from a Greek word meaning to tear flesh like dogs and signifies a cutting remark.

Sarcasm usually involves obvious, verbal irony, achieving its effect by jeeringly stating the opposite of what is meant so as to heighten the insult.

Yes.

Ridicule

Ridicule is the use of words intended to belittle a person or idea.

The goal is to condemn or criticize by making the thing, idea, or person seem laughable and ridiculous.

Parody

A parody is an imitation of an author or his/her work with the idea of ridiculing the author, his/her ideas, or the work itself.

Imitation which, through distortion and exaggeration, evokes amusement, derision, and sometimes scorn Borrows a pre-existing form The Daily Show, The Colbert Report

Spaceballs

Invective

Invective is speech or writing that abuses, denounces, or attacks.

It can be directed against a person, cause, idea, or system.

It employs a heavy use of negative emotive language.

For Example: I cannot but conclude the bulk of your natives to be the most pernicious race of little odious vermin that nature ever suffered to crawl upon the surface of the earth. (Swift, Gullivers Travels)

Practice

Watch the following video: http://youtu.be/OSXNU1_bouc

As you watch, jot down all of the various characteristics of satire you see in the video.

Then, determine whether the video is Horatian or Juvenalian satire and write a sentence or two explaining why.