Understanding Satire

Using your homework: share with your neighbour the 5 ironic

events or things you have discovered. Can you pick the two

best events to share?

It’s been a week. Can

you remember

what irony is?

Irony: the discrepancy between what is said and what is meant, what is said and what is done,what is expected or intended and what happens…

So what is Satire?

A work that ridicules its subject through the use of techniques such as exaggeration, reversal,

incongruity, and/or parody in order to make a comment or criticism about it.

• Today we will look for and identify satirical details that reveal the comment or criticism of society that the story describes.

• We will consider what message is the writer trying to give to the world through these characters and events.

• Incongruity: To present things that are out of place or are absurd in relation to its surroundings. • Parody: To imitate the techniques and/or style of

some person, place, or thing. To make fun of something.• Exaggeration: To enlarge, increase, or represent

something beyond normal bounds so that it becomes ridiculous and its faults can be seen. • Reversal: To present the opposite of the normal

order (e.g., the order of events, hierarchical order).

The Veldt by Ray Bradbury • As we read through the text we will pause to answer questions on

each section through discussion.• Look for techniques which signal the use of satire (including the

use of irony). • As a group make notes on all the questions asked and highlight and

annotate lines you discuss to inform your analysis at the end of the lesson.

• One scribe for the sugar paper, all with highlighters and a copy of the text, one person writing questions you come up with.

The Veldt (Part One)

• What do you think a ‘Happylife Home’ is?• How is the stove described? What technique is being

used? (Think: satire)• How would you describe the setting and atmosphere?• What technique does Bradbury use to suggest there is

something wrong?Discuss these questions as a group.Write down notes, bullet points and ideas on your

sugar paper.Any questions you have write on the post-it notes.

The Veldt (Part Two)

• How much did the nursery cost? Why do you think the nursery cost so much?

• How does Bradbury describe the lions?• How are the parents satirized?• What is odd about the line “You’ve been working too hard.

You need a rest.”Discuss these questions as a group.Write down notes, bullet points and ideas on your

sugar paper.Any questions you have write on the post-it notes.

The Veldt (Part Three)

• How are the children's’ thoughts absurd and odd?• Why is the nursery setting stuck as the Veldt? What is

being satirized here?• Why do you think the child’s IQ is important?• How is the wallet described?Why do you think the wallet

ends up in the nursery?Discuss these questions as a group.Write down notes, bullet points and ideas on your

sugar paper.Any questions you have write on the post-it notes.

The Veldt (Part Four)

• What is the children’s relationship with their parents like? Give evidence for your answer.

• Why does the psychologist give that advice?• What message do you think the writer is giving to

parents?• Why is the scarf found in the nursery?Discuss these questions as a group.

Write down notes, bullet points and ideas on your sugar paper.

Any questions you have write on the post-it notes.

The Veldt (Part Five)

• How do the children react to the closing of the nursery and why?

• What have the children done and why?• How does Bradbury use reversal at the end of the story?• Why is Wendy’s question ironic?Discuss these questions as a group.

Write down notes, bullet points and ideas on your sugar paper.

Any questions you have write on the post-it notes.

Each group has one question to discuss and feedback on:

1. What aspects pf contemporary family life do the “Happylife Home” and the nursery satirize? What exactly have the Hadleys “purchased” for their $30,000 (plus $15,000 extra for the nursery)? What do the amenities of the “Happylife Home” offer them?

2. In what ways has the house infantilised the Hadleys? How does Bradbury depict this as dangerous? In addition to not having anything to do, why else does Lydia say that she feels like she doesn’t belong in the house?

3. This story is in many ways also a classic Gothic horror story (which often portray “sick” houses and/or families). What clues are readers given throughout the story that something “very bad” (to quote David McClean!) is going on in the nursery?

4. How is childhood represented in this story? What are the effects of the house and nursery on the children? In what ways does Bradbury depict these effects as dangerous (to the children, to society)?

5. What does the story suggest as the source of the children’s murderous hatred for their parents? How are George and Lydia shown to have failed their children?

6. How is this story’s depiction of imagination, and the “uses” of fantasy/imagination by children, different than (or similar to) earlier texts we’ve read/seen?

Place all your feedback to the question on the wall.

• Present your information to the class.• Ask questions if you are confused or need further

information.Plenary:

Write your own definition of satire.Do you think this is a successful short story?

Explain why!