Theme and SatireELA 11

I. ThemeA. Life lesson the story is meant to present to

the reader. A. Like a fortune cookie—straight to the point, clear

prediction about your life.

I. ThemeA. It must be universal- everyone should be

able to learn something from it1. Theme is that lesson you learn after watching

a movie, reading a book, or listening to a song.

ThemeC. Rarely stated in the text – instead, the reader must usually consider the plot, characters, and setting to infer the theme.

1. Theme should not confused with other literary elements such as topic or setting of the story.a. Topic= Main idea of the story.b. Setting= Where the story takes place (time period, event, experience).c. Theme= Message the author wants the

reader to get from the story.

ThemeD. Ambiguous Theme

1. When a theme can be interpreted in more than one way.

2. There can be more than one theme in a story!

Topic vs. ThemeFor 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.

Topic vs. Theme Pt. 2The 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. ThemeSimilarly, somebody might describe the “theme”of

“The Things They Carried” as war. War is the setting not the theme!

ExamplesWhich 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 magicB. You should be able to run faster. C. Perseverance pays off.

ExamplesWhich 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 magicB. You should be able to run faster. C. Perseverance pays off.

II. SatireA. Uses irony, humor, and sometimes sarcasm in an attempt to change or improve society.B. There are several types of satire.

1. Horatian: This is a gentle, sympathetic form of satire.

a. Mildly mocks the subject.

b. The audience is asked to laugh at themselves as much as the players.

II. Satire2. Juvenalian/juvenille: harsh and bitter satire

a. Often, it seeks to address some evil in society through scorn and ridicule.

b. Approaches satire in a more serious manner and uses dignified language to attack incorrect thinking or vice.

C. Types of Satirists (people who write satire)

1. Optimist a. Likes people, but people are dumb b. Tells the truth with a smile c. Wants to cure people of their ignorance d. Writes satire in order to heal

2. Pessimist a. Loves individuals, but hates mankind b. Aim is to wound, to punish, and to destroy c. Juvenalian satire

Example: The Onion

Satire

Horation Example

Juvenalian Satire

CharacteristicsD. Characteristics of Satire

1. Irony a. expression, through words (verbal irony) or events (irony of situation), conveying a

reality different from- and usually opposite to appearance or expectation.

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

Characteristics2. Hyperbole and Sarcasm

a. Hyperbole= deliberate exaggeration to achieve an effect;

overstatement. b. Sarcasm= is intentional derision,

generally directed at another person and intended to hurt.

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

Example

Yes….

Characteristics of satire3. Ridicule

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

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

Forms of SatireD. Forms of Satire

1. Parodya. 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.

b. Borrows a pre-existing form

Examples: The Daily Show, The Colbert Report

Example: Spaceballs

Forms of Satire2. Invective

a. speech or writing that abuses, denounces, or attacks.b. It can be directed against a person, cause, idea, or system. c. 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, Gulliver’s Travels)

PracticeWatch the following video:

http://youtu.be/OSXNU1_bouc

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

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