Information on Satire

Information on Satire

Satire arouses laughter or scorn as a means of ridicule and derision, with the avowed intention of correcting human faults. Common targets of satire include individuals ("personal satire"), types of people, social groups, institutions, and human nature

Indirect satire uses a fictional narrative in which characters who represent particular points of view are made ridiculous by their own behaviour and thoughts, and by the narrator's usually ironic commentary. In Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels (1726) the hero narrating his own adventures appears ridiculous in taking pride in his Lilliputian title of honour, "Nardac"; by making Gulliver look foolish in this way, Swift indirectly satirizes the pretensions of the English nobility, with its corresponding titles of "Duke" and "Marquess."

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SATIRE: An attack on or criticism of any stupidity or vice in the form of scathing humor, or a critique of what the author sees as dangerous religious, political, moral, or social standards. Satire became an especially popular technique used during the Enlightenment, in which it was believed that an artist could correct folly by using art as a mirror to reflect society. When people viewed the satire and saw their faults magnified in a distorted reflection, they could see how ridiculous their behavior was and then correct that tendency in themselves. Indirect satire conventionally employs the form of a fictional narrative--such as Byron's Don Juan or Swift's Gulliver's Travels. Ridicule, irony, exaggeration, and similar tools are almost always used in satire. Horatian satire tends to focus lightly on laughter and ridicule, but it maintains a playful tone. Generally, the tone is sympathetic and good humored, somewhat tolerant of imperfection and folly even while expressing amusement at it. The name comes from the Roman poet Horace (65 BCE-8 CE), who preferred to ridicule human folly in general rather than condemn specific persons. In contrast, Juvenalian satire also uses withering invective, insults, and a slashing attack. The name comes from the Roman poet Juvenal (60-140 CE), who frequently employed the device, but the label is applied to British writers such as Swift and Pope as well.

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Satirical literature can commonly be categorized as either Horatian or Juvenalian, although the two are not entirely mutually exclusive.

Horatian

Named for the Roman satirist, Horace, this playfully criticizes some social vice through gentle, mild, and light-hearted humour. It directs wit, exaggeration, and self-deprecating humour toward what it identifies as folly, rather than evil. Horatian satire's sympathetic tone is common in modern society.

Juvenalian

Named after the Roman satirist Juvenal, this type of satire is more contemptuous and abrasive than the Horatian. Juvenalian satire addresses social evil through scorn, outrage, and savage ridicule. This form is often pessimistic, characterized by irony, sarcasm, moral indignation and personal invective, with less emphasis on humour. Strongly polarized political satire is often Juvenalian.

Types of satire can also be classified according to the object it addresses into political satire, satire of everyday life, and philosophical satire. Satire of everyday life criticizes mode of life of common people; political satire aims at behavior, manners of politicians, and vices of political systems; philosophical satire has as its object global vices inherent to the mankind. The state of political satire in a given country reflects the state of civil liberties and human rights. Under totalitarian regimes any criticism of a political system including satire is suppressed.

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Information on Irony

Information on Irony

Irony is an implied discrepancy between what is said and what is meant.
Three kinds of irony:

1. verbal irony is when an author says one thing and means something else.
2. dramatic irony is when an audience perceives something that a character in the literature does not know.
3. irony of situation is a discrepency between the expected result and actual results.

Irony A literary device that uses contradictory statements or situations to reveal a reality different from what appears to be true. It is ironic for a firehouse to burn down, or for a police station to be burglarized. Verbal irony is a figure of speech that occurs when a person says one thing but means the opposite. Sarcasm is a strong form of verbal irony that is calculated to hurt someone through, for example, false praise. Dramatic irony creates a discrepancy between what a character believes or says and what the reader or audience member knows to be true. Tragic irony is a form of dramatic irony found in tragedies such as Oedipus the King, in which Oedipus searches for the person responsible for the plague that ravishes his city and ironically ends up hunting himself. Situational irony exists when there is an incongruity between what is expected to happen and what actually happens due to forces beyond human comprehension or control. The suicide of the seemingly successful main character in Edwin Arlington Robinson’s poem "Richard Cory" is an example of situational irony. Cosmic irony occurs when a writer uses God, destiny, or fate to dash the hopes and expectations of a character or of humankind in general. In cosmic irony, a discrepancy exists between what a character aspires to and what universal forces provide. Stephen Crane’s poem "A Man Said to the Universe" is a good example of cosmic irony, because the universe acknowledges no obligation to the man’s assertion of his own existence.
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Irony. 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. A writer may say the opposite of what he means, create a reversal between expectation and its fulfillment, or give the audience knowledge that a character lacks, making the character's words have meaning to the audience not perceived by the character. In verbal irony, the writer's meaning or even his attitude may be different from what he says: "Why, no one would dare argue that there could be anything more important in choosing a college than its proximity to the beach." An example of situational irony would occur if a professional pickpocket had his own pocket picked just as he was in the act of picking someone else's pocket. The irony is generated by the surprise recognition by the audience of a reality in contrast with expectation or appearance, while another audience, victim, or character puts confidence in the appearance as reality (in this case, the pickpocket doesn't expect his own pocket to be picked). The surprise recognition by the audience often produces a comic effect, making irony often funny.
An example of dramatic irony (where the audience has knowledge that gives additional meaning to a character's words) would be when King Oedipus, who has unknowingly killed his father, says that he will banish his father's killer when he finds him.
Irony is the most common and most efficient technique of the satirist, because it is an instrument of truth, provides wit and humor, and is usually at least obliquely critical, in that it deflates, scorns, or attacks.
The ability to detect irony is sometimes heralded as a test of intelligence and sophistication. When a text intended to be ironic is not seen as such, the effect can be disastrous. Some students have taken Swift's "Modest Proposal" literally. And Defoe's contemporaries took his "Shortest Way with the Dissenters" literally and jailed him for it. To be an effective piece of sustained irony, there must be some sort of audience tip-off, through style, tone, use of clear exaggeration, or other device.

Gulliver's Travels Scavenger Hunt

Gulliver’s Travels Theme Scavenger Hunt

Scatological humor	PETTY BICKERING	EXPLORATION & DISCOVERY	SITUATIONAL IRONY	DEGRADING BEHAVIOR
SPECIFIC CLOTHING DESCRIPTIONS	”I will not trouble the reader …”	SPECIFIC FOOD DESCRIPTIONS	COPING WITH ALIENATION	SPECIFIC FOOD DESCRIPTIONS
FOOLISH EXPERIMENTATION	RELIGIOUS BELIEFS	FREE SPACE	”I will not trouble the reader …”	RELIGIOUS BELIEFS
SPECIFIC FOOD DESCRIPTIONS	PETTY BICKERING	SITUATIONAL IRONY	SCATOLOGICAL HUMOR	SPECIFIC CLOTHING DESCRIPTIONS
COPING WITH ALIENATION	EXPLORATION & DISCOVERY	SPECIFIC CLOTHING DESCRIPTIONS	FOOLISH EXPERIMENTATION	DEGRADING BEHAVIOR

Gulliver's Travels Study Guide

Below is the study guide written for the book we'll be reading this semester in Writing 2

GULLIVER’S TRAVELS

Study Guide

Literary Terms

Allegory

Interior monologue

Irony

Novel

Parable

Point of view

Plot:  Elements & Types

Setting

Satire

Theme

Tone

BACKGROUND INFORMATION FOR GULLIVER’S TRAVELS

–         Jonathon Swift, Enlightenment, England

–         Types of Satire

THEMES

Defn:  The central meaning or dominant idea in a literary work. A theme provides a unifying point around which the plot, characters, setting, point of view, symbols, and other elements of a work are organized. It is important not to mistake the theme for the actual subject of the work; the theme refers to the abstract concept that is made concrete through the images, characterization, and action of the text.

General themes

–         Serious defects afflict society

            “Politicians, religious leaders, social planners, military tacticians, educators – indeed, all of          society’s elite – often hamper progress through political machinations, aggression, misguided       science and art, and out-and-out stupidity.”

–         Adventure story

      “Strange and wondrous exploits await people willing to take risks.”

Specific themes

Might Makes Right

Petty Bickering

Foolish Experimentation

Degrading Behavior

Exploration and Discovery

Coping with Alienation

Relativity

Love and Kindness – Absence & Presence

STUDY QUESTIONS for GULLIVER’S TRAVELS

Preface and Introduction

–         What is the purpose and result of introduction?

–         What dates are given regarding the travels and publication of the book?

PART 1

Chapters 1 - 3

–         What background does Gulliver give about himself?

–         How does he set the stage for his credibility?

–         Explain the difference between seeing the world through Gulliver’s eyes and having the ability to step back as the reader.

–         Describe the “power differential” between Gulliver and the Lilliputians.

–         Describe the significance of rope dancing.

–         Describe some aspects of the Lilliputian culture.

–         Gulliver earns the trust of the Lilliputians.  How is this ironic?

–         How does Swift show that people take themselves too seriously?

–         Discuss what “Might makes Right” means.

Chapters 4 – 6

–         “The more serious the tone, the more laughable the situation appears.”  Explain how this quote applies to situations with the Lilliputians.

–         Discuss the conflict between the High-Heels and the Low-Heels (politics); between the Big-Endians and the Little-Endians (religion).

–         How does Gulliver show that he feels some responsibility toward all beings.

–         What Lilliputian customs seem reasonable and sensible?

Chapters 7 – 9

–         What aspects of the Lilliputians does Gulliver approve?  Of what does he disapprove?

–         Discuss the Lilliputian method of raising children.  List the positive and negative aspects.

–         Are the Lilliputians able to change their customs or ways of life?  Give examples.

–         “Swift makes a mockery of formal language by showing how it can be used to mask simple fears and desires.”  Explain and give examples from the text.

PART 2

Chapters 1 – 4

–         How are the tables turned for Gulliver in Brobdingnag?

–         “Swift makes a mockery of those who would try to demonstrate their expertise through convoluted language.”  Explain.

–         “Swift’s larger mission is to criticize the validity of various kinds of expert knowledge that are more showy than helpful.”  How does this apply to languages?

–         Why does the dwarf react to negatively towards Gulliver?

–         Why is the discussion of skin and complexion significant?

–         Describe the conversations that Gulliver has with the King.

Chapters 5 – 8

–         Describe Gulliver’s personal insignificance.  How does he maintain some sense of importance?

–         How do his long discussions with the King leave him feeling humiliated?

–         “Gulliver’s naïveté, his gullibility, and his ingenuous praise for England all accentuate his similarity to the Lilliputians: convinced of his own significance, he is unable to realize the pettiness and imperfection of the society he represents.”  Discuss.

–         Are the Brobdingnagians more or less moral than the Lilliputians?

PART 3

Chapters 1 – 4

–         During the first two voyages, Swift attacks politics and ethics.  In this voyage, he primarily satirizes science, learning, and abstract thought.  Give examples.  What point is Swift making?

–         How does a floating island represent a government and its people?

–         Give examples that show “nonhuman” qualities of the people of Laputa.

–         Why is Gulliver’s friend, a lord, considered stupid by his peers?

–         Describe the condition of the land and inhabitants of the non-floating island.

–         Why are the people living in a shabby, miserable condition?

Chapters 5 – 8

–         Swift was parodying the Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge as he portrayed absentminded philosophers.  Describe some of the projects done at the academy.  Explain the irony of these.

–         What ideas about government are given in Chapter 6?  Are they valid and workable ideas?  Why?

–         In Glubbdubdrib, how does Gulliver’s discussions with historical figures allow Swift to ridicule aspects of society?

–         Which persons of history does Swift hold up as virtuous and who are more degenerate?

Chapters 9 -11

–         How does the King get rid of subjects he doesn’t like?  Is this effective?

–         How does Gulliver’s views of living forever contrast with the situation of the Struldbrugs of Luggnagg?

–         What does Gulliver conclude about the lives of the Struldbrugs?

PART 4

Chapters 1 – 4

–         Explain how Gulliver has tired of humankind. 

–         Explain how Gulliver finds himself in a kind of “limbo.”

–         Swift allows us to discover through Gulliver’s eays that the Houyhnhnms are not magicians but actual horses that are intelligent.  What affect does this have on the reader?

–         List the differences between this voyage and the first three voyages.

–         Why is Gulliver not eager to leave the Houyhnhnms?

Chapters 5 – 8

–         Describe Gulliver’s explanations of the state of affairs in Europe.  How do the Houyhnhnms respond?

–         Why is Gulliver’s desire to stay not a typical “return to nature” attitude?

–         What aspects of the Yahoos appall Gulliver?

–         What similarities between humans and Yahoos does Gulliver’s master point out?

–         The Houyhnhnms seem to be only virtuous.  What faults do you see?

Chapters 9 – 12

–         What aspects of Houyhnhnm society does Gulliver describe?

–         How are the lives of the Houyhnhnms dull, simple and lifeless?  Give examples.

–         Why must Gulliver leave?  How does he accomplish this?

–         Why does Gulliver loathe to return to England?

–         Why is Gulliver repulsed by Don Pedro?  How does he think of him?

–         How does Gulliver respond to his family?  Why?

End-of-Book Discussions

–         Alienation:  Gulliver returns from his last voyage completely alienated from humankind.  Describe how this process happened with each successive voyage.

–         Alienation:  “In the first three voyages, it is easy to identify with Gulliver, but in the last voyage he becomes so alienated from humanity that it is difficult to sympathize with him. This shift in our loyalty is accompanied by a shift in the method of satire. Whereas in the first voyages we can look through Gulliver’s eyes—sharing his astonishment at the Lilliputians’ miniature society, his discomfort at being the plaything of the Brobdingnagian giants, and his contempt for the tyrannical intellectualism of the Laputans—here, in the fourth voyage, we are forced to step back and look not with Gulliver, but at him.”  Discuss.

–         The Necessity of Imperfection:  “What is missing in the horses is exactly that which makes human life rich: the complicated interplay of selfishness, altruism, love, hate, and all other emotions. In other words, the Houyhnhnms’ society is perfect for Houyhnhnms, but it is hopeless for humans. Houyhnhnm society is, in stark contrast to the societies of the first three voyages, devoid of all that is human.”  Discuss.

–         Pessimism or Optimism:  “It seems reasonable to conclude that Swift was not a cynic who gave up on society and humankind but instead a gadfly who bit the carcass of the complacent in order to force it to rise and act.”  Discuss

–         Swift’s “Verisimilitude”  [from “veritas” (truth) and “similes” (similar)]:  In fantasy, a writer creates impossible characters, places and situations and asks the reader to pretend they are real; he tells a story in such a way that it seems credible.  Find examples in the book to illustrate the following points.

1.         Story told in the first person as an eye witness

2.         Gulliver has real-world background

3.         Imaginary characters are given real-world characteristics

4.         Statistics are infused to give objectivity and truth

5.         Readers are addressed directly implying an intimate and confidential correspondence

6.         The voyages and the real world alternate in the plot.

–         Swift’s Ridicule of Travel Writers:  Many travel writers of the day write inflated descriptions with a profusion of insignificant details.  Gulliver often states, “I will not trouble the reader …..”  What affect does this have on the reader?

–         Tone:  Tone refers to the author’s implicit attitude toward the reader or the people, places, and events in a work as revealed by the elements of the author’s style. Tone may be characterized as serious or ironic, sad or happy, private or public, angry or affectionate, bitter or nostalgic, or any other attitudes and feelings that human beings experience.  Describe the tone of the book.  Does it change?

–         Serious defects afflict society:  List some of those defects that Swift is emphasizing.

–         Gulliver’s Two Persons:  Swift portrays Gulliver in two perspectives:  as a bystander observing follies and vices of cultures that symbolize England; and as the foibles and errors of England himself.  Discuss the difference between these two portrayals and find examples from the book.