Satire

High school (ages 12+)
Art & Creativity

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/satire

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the genre classification?Literary and artistic form using humor, irony, and exaggeration to critique
2. What is the historical antecedents?Ancient Greek and Roman literature, notably Aristophanes, Horace, and Juvenal
3. Why do people use satire instead of just saying something is wrong?Satire uses humor and clever tricks to make people more open to hearing a message. It can make serious ideas easier to understand and can encourage people to think about changing things.
4. Where did satire begin?Satire started a long time ago with Greek playwrights like Aristophanes, who made funny plays about Athenian politics and customs. Later, Roman writers like Horace and Juvenal added their own styles.

Invective: Harsh, abusive, or vitriolic language directed against someone or something.
Allegory: A story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.
Complacency: A feeling of smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one's achievements.