Definition: a genre of literature, art, drama, film, song lyrics, or other media which points out the follies of the human race. Any abuses, corruptions or shortcomings found in politics, religion, social institutions, or human nature itself are appropriate objects of satire.
Goal: To hold up to scorn and ridicule those conditions in the world most in need of reform. In this sense, satire has a moral, didactic, or corrective purpose. To portray as shameful those aspects of human life and behavior which fall short of an implied moral standard of conduct.
Methods: To reach its goals, satire employs many devices of language:
First, irony: what is said in a satire almost always has another meaning.
Second, sarcasm: sarcasm and verbal irony are not identical but are usually closely related. In satire, the tone of the language is often cutting, scornful, in a word, sarcastic.
Exaggeration, understatement, and double entendre are also useful tools of the satirist. Wit and derisive laughter are used to shock the reader into recognizing the problem (even when the problem is ourselves), laughing at those who represent or embody this problem, and seeing a better alternative. Thus, satirists seek to mend or improve a fallen or corrupt human race or its institutions. Satire is therefore inherently moral, a literary offshoot of moral philosophy.
History: the term itself and early practitioners trace back to the writing of Roman authors such as Horace and Juvenal. In English, the first half of the 18th century is often referred to as the Age of Satire, because of the importance of two of its greatest practitioners, Jonathan Swift and Alexander Pope.
Shakespeare
Messrs. Burns & Coon
January, 2013
Paper Assignment: Close reading of a scene
TOPIC: Choose a scene from The Merchant of Venice for a close reading. Once you have chosen your scene, look carefully at the dialogue and language in order to draw conclusions about the importance and meaning of the scene.
CHARACTER ANALYSIS: Look for evidence of the characters’ deepest motives, the nature of their relationships with each other, the existence of any doubts or inner conflicts, how the play helps us understand their wishes and desires, how Shakespeare steers our sympathies as audience either in favor of or against specific characters.
STYLE & LANGUAGE: As you identify the key aspects of the scene, also make mention of how the language itself furthers the scene. How do particular words, images, and metaphors help bring out the desired effect and enhance the meaning of key aspects of the scene.
LENGTH: 2 ½ to 3 pages (approximately 800 words), typed, double spaced, 12 point serif font, one-inch margins all around.
RESOURCES: None, please. Read your scene several times, making notes of the patterns you identify as you go, then write your paper solely from those notes.
DUE: Thursday, January 31 (day 6 schedule) Turnitin.com title: Merchant of Venice scene study.
Your other final assignment for this play is to select a monolog (20+ lines) or dialog (40+ lines) to perform dramatically. It's not a requirement that your performance choice come from the scene you discuss in your paper, but the two assignments could certainly be linked. We will give you more information, and time to work on both assignments, during Tuesday's class.
