meaning of satire

[Helga]

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #269 "Literary Terms (1)", question 2

A funny piece of writing that usually makes fun of foolish or evil behavior is called a ..........

(a) metaphor
(b) satire
(c) exaggeration

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #269 "Literary Terms (1)", answer 2

A funny piece of writing that usually makes fun of foolish or evil behavior is called a satire.

Correct answer: (b) satire
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explanation, please.

Helga

[Alan]

Hi Helga,

'Satire' is usually a humorous piece of writing. A literary example is of writing that makes fun of a situation or people, using different characters to represent the real event or people. An example is Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift (1667-1745) where he creates an imaginary situation with the idea of mocking/making fun of contemporary society.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
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[Aiken]

Dear teachers,

Can you please explain what is the difference between satire and irony?

Thanks in advance.
Aiken
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Man proposes; God disposes

[Mordant]

Aiken, irony is a marked, often meaningful disparity between reality and what is presumed to be reality. It can occur within or outside the context of ridicule, unlike satire. It's also not necessarily a component of writing or art. Events in life that satisfy that definition are examples of irony, which is not to be confused with "coincidence." Those words are often confused.

[Alan]

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Hi Aiken,

'Satire' can be a form of writing where the author is making fun of society or individuals and chooses to do this by creating different characters to illustrate the satire. A good example of political satire is 'Animal Farm' by George Orwell where a dictatorship is illustrated by using animals on a farm to represent different types in society. 'Irony' in its simplest form is when you as the listener or viewer know the truth about someone but they are unaware of this. You can see this in so called dramatic irony where the audience knows the truth about what has happened in the play but one or some of the characters know nothing about it.

Alan
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English as a Foreign Language
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