Satire

• What is satire?


  Satire is a type of writing that uses humor to highlight flaws in society or individuals.
• What is a famous example of satire written by Jonathan Swift?

  Gulliver’s Travels (1726).
• What is the main purpose of Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels?


  While it seems like a travel adventure, the book is a commentary on human behavior and societal issues.
• When did the realist period in American literature occur?

  In the late 1800s.
• What is a key feature of realist literature?

  It focuses on the everyday struggles of regular individuals, often with unhappy or unresolved endings.
• How did satire fit into the realist period in America?

  Satire was used to critique both romanticism and societal issues during the realist period.
• Who were some famous American writers known for satirical works during the realist period?

  Mark Twain and Charles Farrar Browne.
• What was a common characteristic of both realist writing and the works of Mark Twain and Charles Farrar Browne?

  The use of ordinary characters and common language (vernacular).
• What pen name did Charles Farrar Browne use when writing "Interview with President Lincoln"?

  Artemus Ward.
• What is the main theme of the excerpt from "Interview with President Lincoln"?

  It humorously critiques the opportunistic and self-serving behavior of politicians.
• How does the narrator in "Interview with President Lincoln" describe his actions if he were involved in politics?

  He would campaign loudly, secure an office, and, if unsuccessful, criticize the administration.
• What does Browne’s use of colloquial speech and humor in "Interview with President Lincoln" achieve?


  It allows him to subtly critique the negative behaviors of politicians and societal flaws.
• What other humorist writer from the realist period is mentioned for using satire to comment on society?

  Mark Twain.
• What topics did Mark Twain satirize in his writings?

  Racial relations, British customs, and class differences in the 1800s.
• Which of Mark Twain’s works is mentioned as an example of satire?

  The £1,000,000 Bank-Note (1893).