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The 10 Wittiest Essays By Mark Twain

An American author and humorist, Mark Twain is known for his witty works, which include books, essays, short stories, speeches, and more. While not every single piece of written work was infused with humor, many were, ranging from deadpan humor to laugh-out-loud funny. We’ve put together a list, in no particular order, of ten witty pieces that will give you a peek inside the wittiness of this celebrated author.

The Awful German Language

As anyone who has ever learned or attempted to learn a second language knows, it is difficult and can be very frustrating at times. Twain explores this in the witty essay ‘ The Awful German Language ,’ which was first published in Appendix D in A Tramp Abroad. He describes the language as ‘perplexing’ with its ten different parts of speech, one sound meaning several different things, super long words, which he believes have their own ‘perspective,’ and so on. After breaking down the language, Twain goes on to describe how he would ‘reform it.’ When it comes to these long compound words, for example, he would ‘require the speaker to deliver them in sections, with intermissions for refreshments.’

How to Tell a Story

In ‘How to Tell a Story ,’ Twain discusses the humorous story, which he says is the ‘one difficult kind’ and purely American. The humorous story, as Twain points out, ‘is told gravely’ and takes time to tell, whereas comic and witty stories, which are English and French respectively, are short and get right to the point. Twain also states that when is comes to comic storytellers, they will often repeat the punch line while looking back and forth at each person’s face to see reactions. Twain describes this ‘a pathetic thing to see.’ He goes on to give readers a couple of examples: ‘The Wounded Soldier’ (comic) and ‘The Golden Arm’ (humorous).

Advice To Youth

‘Always obey your parents…,’ is first piece of ‘advice’ Twain gives in his satirical essay ‘ Advice To Youth ,’ written in 1882; however, he immediately follows it with ‘…when they are present.’ He also discusses respecting superiors, but if they offend in any way, then the youth may ‘simply watch your chance and hit him with a brick.’ Other pieces of ‘advice’ from Twain include ‘be very careful about lying’ and ‘never handle firearms carelessly.’ He writes of books and how ‘Robertson’s Sermons, Baxter’s Saints’ Rest… ‘ are some of the books that the youth should read ‘exclusively.’ Twain was making a social commentary about the people of his time, but it is a fun read.

Taming the Bicycle

‘ Taming the Bicycle ‘ is a funny account of Twain learning to ride an old high wheel bike. This piece, while never published during his lifetime as he was never happy with it, is laugh-out-loud funny. Taking lessons from ‘the Expert,’ Twain has much difficulty learning to stay on the bike. Indeed, ‘He [the Expert] said that dismounting was perhaps the hardest thing to learn… But he was in error there.’ Hilarity ensues as Twain falls, repeatedly, on his teacher as he has trouble staying the bike for any amount of time. Eventually, Twain does learn how to get on the bike and dismount properly; he even writes ‘Get a bicycle. You will not regret it, if you live.’

Fenimore Cooper’s Literary Offences

Professionals once described Fenimore Cooper’s The Deerslayer and The Pathfinder as ‘artistic creations’ and Cooper himself as ‘the greatest artist in the domain of romantic fictions.’ In ‘ Fenimore Cooper’s Literary Offences ,’ Mark Twain clearly thought otherwise. In this critical essay, Twain states that Cooper violated 18 of the ‘rules governing literary art’ and proceeds to explain each one. Some of the funnier moments or rules broken include ‘1. That a tale shall accomplish something and arrive somewhere. But the Deerslayer tale accomplishes nothing and arrives in the air’ and ’12. Say what he is proposing to say, not merely come near it.’ This piece is biting and funny at the same time.

At the Funeral

While funerals are serious, Mark Twain manages to make the subject funny in ‘ At the Funeral ,’ a short essay in which the humorous writer gives his take on proper etiquette when attending such an event. For example, the attendee must not ‘criticise the person in whose honor the entertainment is given’ and definitely ‘make no remarks about his equipment.’ Also, the attendee should only ‘be moved…according to the degree of your intimacy’ with the people hosting the funeral or the deceased. And lastly, as only Twain would point out, ‘Do not bring your dog.’

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On Theft and Conscience

‘On Theft and Conscience’ is an except taken from a speech Twain gave in 1902 and is printed in Mark Twain’s Helpful Hints for Good Living: A Handbook for the Damned Human Race . He recalled the first time he ‘removed’ (stole) a watermelon from a wagon; once he looked at it, he realized it was not yet ripe. He had a bit of remorse, so he returned the watermelon to the owner. This is Mark Twain after all; therefore, he told the owner ‘to reform.’ The owner, in turn, gave Twain a ripe melon, and Twain ‘forgave’ the owner.

The Jumping Frog

In 1865, Mark Twain wrote ‘The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County,’ a witty short story about a gambler named Jim Smiley as told by the bartender, Sam Wheeler. A French writer, while liking the story and thinking it was funny, didn’t understand why it would cause anyone to laugh and translated the story into French in order prove his point. Twain caught wind of it and translated it back into English but using the grammatical structure and syntax of the French language. As he points out, ‘the Frenchman has riddled the grammar. I think it is the worst I ever saw…’ He published everything as ‘ The Jumping Frog : In English. Then in French. Then Clawed Back into a Civilized Language Once More By Patient, Unremunerated Toil.’

A Presidential Candidate

A satirical essay written in 1879, ‘A Presidential Candidate’ makes fun of the campaign process and explores the ideal candidate or in Twain’s words ‘a candidate who cannot be injured by investigation of his past history…’ If the candidate did, indeed, expose all his ‘wickedness’ then his opponents could not use his past against him. A truly witty piece, some of the secrets revealed include the candidate burying his deceased aunt under his grapevines because ‘the vine needed fertilizing, my aunt had to be buried, and I dedicated her to this high purpose’ and his dislike for ‘the poor man.’

Advice to Little Girls

While it is a funny short story, ‘ Advice to Little Girls ‘ also has deeper meaning: girls should think for themselves. For example, one piece of ‘advice’ Twain shares is ‘If you mother tells you to do a thing, it is wrong to reply that you won’t.’ He writes that little girls should act as they will do what they’re told but that ‘afterward act quietly in the matter according to the dictates of your best judgment.’ This piece also has recommendations on how take chewing gum from little brothers, how to treat friends who have better toys, plus several more little gems.

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The Satirist

America's Most Critical Journal since 1999

See classic essays: A Modest Proposal to Convert Shopping Malls into Prisons and Smoking as Religion and other examples of satirical essays.

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10 of History’s Greatest Satirists

Here are 10 great literary satirists from history. They are presented in chronological order:

Ancient Athenian playwright Aristophanes’ plays are still performed to this day. Respected and feared for his comic wit and scathing satire, he was merciless in his mockery of religious figures, politicians and poets. His victims included such influential figures as Euripides, Cleon and Socrates.

Chaucer was the Middle Ages most famous poet. He was also an ardent humorist, who was highly critical of the order of the day, particularly the Catholic Church. His most famous work, The Canterbury Tales , is rife with comedic social satire.

Erasmus was a Dutch priest, theologian and social critic. He is best remembered for his satirical attack on the superstitions of the Church in his essay, In Praise of Folly . It is considered one of the most important works of the Renaissance.

Rabelais was a French Renaissance physician, monk and writer, who was famed for his satirical wit and crude sense of humour. His seminal work, The Life of Gargantua and of Pantagruel , is a comedic masterpiece that satirises many elements of the Renaissance.

Swift was a cleric and author. His most famous title, Gulliver’s Travels , is a satire on human nature. It was a bestseller on publication, and remains popular to this day. The author’s ironic writing style led to subsequent satires similar to his own being labelled ‘Swiftian’.

Voltaire was unrelenting in his criticism of the order of his day. His beliefs and determination to voice them resulted in 2 stints in The Bastille. Voltaire’s seminal work, the satirical Candide , was widely viewed as blasphemous and revolutionary at the time of its publication.

English novelist Jane Austen’s novels remain popular to this day. She was a supreme social satirist, who employed irony to criticise and parody the social order. Subjects included social class and 19th century views of women, particularly regarding marriage.

Gogol was a short story writer, dramatist and author, who utilised comic realism and acerbic satire in his writing. His targets included what he viewed as the unseemly elements of Imperial Russia. Gogol’s descriptions of bureaucrats and Russian provincials influenced many later writers.

Mark Twain was an American author and humourist best known for The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and its sequel Adventures of Huckleberry Finn . The books are a satire of American southern antebellum society that parody religion, morality, and above all the practice of slavery.

Bierce was a journalist, editorialist, writer and unrelenting satirist, whose satirical works include the lexicon, The Devil’s Dictionary , and the short story, An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge . The derisive satire that he employed in his writing earned him the moniker ‘Bitter Bierce’.

Next week’s blog post will be dedicated to more recent and contemporary satirists.

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A well researched and enlightening post, Guy. 🙂

Thank you Heather.

Perceptions of Satire in Gulliver’s Travels … our attention repeatedly to this idea of steady human degeneration and the natural depravity of human nature , …

Nice to find at one place all the old great satirists in one place!

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14 Best Satire Authors to Add to Your Reading List

Check out these 14 best satire authors to see the power of humor to bring light to interesting ideas.

Satire is a type of writing that uses humor to draw attention to political or social problems. The humor adds to the accessibility of the writer’s ideas. 

If you are interested in reading some great satire, you need to find the right satire authors. Some authors are particularly well-known for their satirical work, and you can find most of them on Amazon. Here are 14 that are worth reading because of their masterful use of satire.

1. George Orwell

2. chuck palahniuk, 3. jonathan swift, 4. joseph heller, 5. kurt vonnegut, 6. mikhail bulgakov, 7. christopher moore, 8. evelyn waugh, 9. jane austen, 10. mark twain, 11. paul beatty, 12. terry pratchett, 13. miguel de cervantes, 14. voltaire, best satire authors ranked.

George Orwell’s strong opposition to totalitarian governments caused him to write novels that were blazing examples of satire. Though his books were interesting stories in their own right, they also had quite a bit to say about what was going on in society.

For example, his novella Animal Farm took an allegorical take on Stalin and his reign, while Nineteen Eighty-Four poked fun in satire form at totalitarianism and the dystopia it would eventually create.

Orwell lived from 1903 to 1950. His legal name was Eric Arthur Blair, and he was from England. His works remain popular with literary critics and educators today. You might be interested in our post explaining why you should always finish reading difficult content .

• Orwell, George (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 282 Pages - 01/14/2021 (Publication Date) - Intra S.r.l.s. (Publisher)

Chuck Palahniuk’s works mock the media-centric nature of modern society, including how focused Americans tend to be on celebrities. His works are known as transgressions fiction, and one of his most famous is Fight Club. After Hollywood took on the story, it gained a cult following, and Palahniuk became a well-known author.

Palahniuk is an American author who was born in the state of Washington. He attended the University of Oregon School of Journalism and started writing for newspapers early in his career while also working as a diesel mechanic. In his 30s, he started writing fiction, publishing Fight Club in 1996.

Palahniuk takes on tales of people marginalized by modern society who react to that with self-destructive aggression in his books. One of his works, Lullaby, is a satire against the power of media to influence people’s daily lives. Interested in knowing more best authors in the political fiction genre? Check out our guide to the best political fiction authors !

• Palahniuk, Chuck (Author)
• 224 Pages - 05/01/2018 (Publication Date) - W. W. Norton & Company (Publisher)

Jonathan Swift was an Irish satirist, poet, and pamphleteer who lived in the late 1600s and early 1700s. Most of his works feature satire in some form. In fact, he is so well-known for his satirical books that sometimes literary satire is called “Swiftian.”

Swift was born in Dublin and spent much of his youth in Ireland. As a young adult in college, the Irish Revolution forced him to flee to England. After the year 1700, he began his writing career, and his first book was A Tale of a Tub.

Many know Swift because of Gulliver’s Travels, another of his famous books. This full-length work is a classic piece of English literature. While it appeals to children because of the story’s adventure, it also is satire in that it pokes fun at the state of the European government and the religious bickering of his time.

• Swift, Jonathan (Author)
• 148 Pages - 12/21/2020 (Publication Date) - CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (Publisher)

Joseph Heller is most famous for his book Catch-22, a satirical work showcasing the futility of war and bureaucracy. The book’s title has become part of modern vocabulary, meaning something absurd or a contradictory choice. 

Heller was born in Brooklyn in 1923. He loved to write starting in his youth. Heller served in the Army during World War II. He published Catch-22 in 1961, and when someone purchased movie rights in 1962, he became a millionaire. 

Heller’s take on writing was interesting in that he only wrote a story after he crafted the first and last lines. He wrote many other novels, with his final novel being, Portrait of an Artist, as an Old Man. 

• Heller, Joseph (Author)
• 544 Pages - 04/05/2011 (Publication Date) - Simon & Schuster (Publisher)

Kurt Vonnegut  published 14 novels, three short story collections, five plays, and five nonfiction books over his writing career. His sixth novel, Slaughterhouse-Five, was his most successful and made him a well-known name in literature. The book mocks the Vietnam War, and it became a nearly instant New York Times bestseller. 

Born and raised in Indianapolis, Vonnegut attended Cornell, Carnegie Mellon, the University of Tennessee, and the University of Chicago. He served in World War II as an intelligence scout. 

Because anti-war sentiment was so strong when he published Slaughterhouse-Five, Vonnegut gained instant popularity, getting asked to speak many times in the following years. The book became a Universal Pictures movie in 1972, and Vonnegut praised the translation into the movie world. For more, check out our list of the best Kurt Vonnegut books .

• Vonnegut, Kurt (Author)
• 288 Pages - 01/12/1999 (Publication Date) - Dial Press Trade Paperback (Publisher)

Mikhail Bulgakov was a Russian writer who published The Master and Margarita, one of the masterpieces of 20th-century literature. Many of his works spoke satirically against Stalin and his regime and were banned by the Soviet government. 

Bulgakov was born in 1891 and lived through the Russian Civil War. That became the subject of many of his books. Today, many exhibits and museums in Russia carry the famous author’s name.

The Master and Margarita is his most famous work, and he began writing it in 1928. However, it did not get published until after his death in 1940. Finally, his widow published it in 1966.

• Bulgakov, Mikhail (Author)
• 448 Pages - 05/03/2016 (Publication Date) - Penguin Classics (Publisher)

Christopher Moore  is a modern satire writer who uses dark humor to make his point. A Dirty Job is one of his novels, and it pokes fun at the human condition and death itself. 

Moore was born and raised in Ohio before attending college in California and then moving to Hawaii. His first novel, Practical Demonkeeping, was an instant success. Before becoming a writer, he had many jobs, including working as a DJ and an insurance broker.

Many of his jobs come into his books. He creates fanciful worlds that are a bit like reality yet different enough to be pretty funny to read. Today, Moore resides in San Francisco. 

• Moore, Christopher (Author)
• 405 Pages - 03/27/2007 (Publication Date) - HarperCollins (Publisher)

English writer  Evelyn Waugh wrote novels, travel books, and biographies. Many of his early works, including Decline and Fall and Handful of Dust, were examples of satire. These comic novels reflected the futile nature of society with flat, unbelievable characters, making them a social commentary on the issues of his day.

Waugh’s full name was Arthur Evelyn St. John Waugh, and he was born in 1903 in London, England, living until the age of 62. After his first marriage failed, he became Catholic, and he served in the Royal Marines during World War II.

A prolific writer, Waugh was considered one of the leading 20th-century English prose writers. Some of his later works focused on the struggle between good and evil as he analyzed what happened in World War II. It is interesting to note that only his pre-war novels show his satirical writing.

• Waugh, Evelyn (Author)
• 304 Pages - 12/11/2012 (Publication Date) - Back Bay Books (Publisher)

Though she only wrote six novels, Jane Austen had a tremendous impact on English language literature. Her novels are satirical looks at the British landed gentry and the 18th century. Books like Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility have rarely been out of print since their original publication.

Austen’s personal life has little information surrounding it. She wrote many letters to her family, which were lost. She never married, and she died in 1817 at the age of 41. 

The memorable characters of Austen’s novel have kept them timeless through the years. Most have movies now, as a new generation continues to discover the strong women of Austen’s world. 

• Austen, Jane (Author)
• 784 Pages - 05/03/2011 (Publication Date) - Anchor (Publisher)

Mark Twain was the pen name of Samuel Langhorne Clemens, and many call him the Father of American Literature. His books The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn continue to inspire children today. Yet, at the heart of these books is a satirical look at the American politics and religion of Twain’s day.

Raised in Hannibal, Missouri, a town that became the setting for his famous books, Twain worked as a Mississippi riverboat pilot, which worked into some of his books. However, even though his books and his work as a public speaker earned him a lot of money, he invested it poorly, losing most of it and declaring bankruptcy at one point. 

Satire is a clear part of Twain’s writings. He pokes fun at the close-minded people he saw around him. Many of his works are subtle political satire, attacking political issues of his time like slavery and imperialism.

• Twain, Mark (Author)
• 168 Pages - 12/21/2020 (Publication Date) - CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (Publisher)

Paul Beatty is a professor of writing at Columbia University and the author of The Sellout, which earned him the National Book Critics Circle Award and the Man Booker Prize. He was the first American writer to win the Man Booker Prize. 

Beatty was born in California and earned an MFA in creative writing and an MA in psychology. In addition to his novels, he has several collections of poetry. His works include a lot of humor, which makes his meanings stick.

The Sellout was a satirical work that looked at police brutality and racial tension. His heavy use of stereotyping helps make his point throughout the novel. Can’t get enough? You might want to check out our round-up of the best political authors . Or you can search for more best authors using our search bar just type in “best authors”!

• Beatty, Paul (Author)
• 304 Pages - 03/01/2016 (Publication Date) - Picador (Publisher)

The author of the 41 Discworld books,  Terry Pratchett , created a satirical fantasy world that sheds light on modern society’s problems. His works are particularly humorous while still making a point through satire. 

His most iconic series, Discworld, takes place in a flat, circular world that rides on the back of four elephants standing on a giant star turtle. Though this sounds quite fantastical, he takes this imaginary world and takes a stab at some real-world issues through it. This makes them excellent examples of satire.

Pratchett published his first story at age 13 in the school newspaper. It proved from early years that writing was his destiny. This prolific British author wrote up until his death in 2015. In 2009 he was honored to be knighted by the Queen for his literary works.

• Terry Pratchett (Author)
• 09/01/1960 (Publication Date) - Harper (Publisher)

The author of Don Quixote, Miguel de Cervantes, used satire to show the folly of chivalry as shown in the books of the time. The main character, Quixote, tries to win the heart of his lady love, tackling a windmill along the way. Many critics believe Don Quixote to be the first modern novel, and it has the most translations of any novel in the world.

Cervantes lived from 1547 to 1616 in Spain, living much of his life in poverty. Most of his works, including Don Quixote, were written in the three years before he died after the Count of Lemos offered him support. Little is known about the author’s life because of the era when he lived.

Even though his biographical information is unknown, Cervantes’s work lives on as people around the globe continue to study his work. It has also become the subject of plays and movies. 

• de Cervantes, Miguel (Author)
• 992 Pages - 03/21/2018 (Publication Date) - Dover Publications (Publisher)

Voltaire was a philosopher in France during the Age of Enlightenment. His novel Candide, also known as All for the Best, is widely translated. It follows a young man, Candide, who lived a sheltered life, only to have it fall apart around him and plunge him into hardship. 

Voltaire lived from 1694 to 1778, and he wrote most types of work with around 2,000 books to his name. Many of his works were a satire on the politics and religious dogma of the French era.

Though he was born and raised in France, Voltaire traveled throughout his life. His work is still a subject of study today because of his immense creativity and ability to reason. For more, check out our list of authors like Upton Sinclair .

• Voltaire (Author)
• 108 Pages - 08/03/2019 (Publication Date) - Independently published (Publisher)

18 Satire Examples Spoofing Politics, Film, & Literature

by Ali Luke

on Aug 29, 2024

What do The Daily Show, The Office, and The Onion have in common? They’re all satire examples.

As a writer who loves to laugh, I appreciate good satire.

Satire offers political and social commentary, using exaggeration, irony, humor, allegory, and more to make a point.

It’s a powerful literary device — though it’s a rhetorical device too, as it can persuade people to see your point of view.

While most writers aren’t engaged in full-on satire, plenty of stories (and even non-fiction articles) use elements of satire to make a point.

So what is satire, where did it come from, and how can you give it a try yourself?

Let’s find out…

What is Satire?

Satire is a literary device that uses exaggeration, irony , humor , allegory , or ridicule to point out the shortcomings or even vices of society.

It’s a way to criticize and expose flaws in ideas, individuals, and groups of people.

Successful satire is often political in focus, but this isn’t a requirement.

Origins of Satire

The word “satire” was used by ancient Roman critics and writers.

Aristophanes was a Greek poet who wrote the earliest satires. His most famous work is Lysistrata , a satirical comedy where the protagonist , Lysistrata, convinces women to withhold sex until the Peloponnesian War (a war between the Greek states of Athens and Sparta) is over.

It ridicules the political order responsible for the war: the idea of women being able to end a war would have seemed ludicrous.

The 3 Types of Satire

Satire comes in different forms. Some satires are light-hearted and focus on being funny ; others are much darker and more biting.

Here are the three key types of satire:

Horatian satire (named for the Roman satirist Horace) is playful.

It criticizes social vice through mild, light-hearted humor. It’s focused on identifying folly rather than outright evil. The narrative voice tends to be tolerant and witty.

Example: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn , by Mark Twain (1884), pokes fun at religion, for instance, with the feud between the Grangerfods and Shepardsons.

Juvenalian satire (named for the Roman satirist Juvenal) is much more bitter and ironic than Horatian satire.

Example: A Modest Proposal (1729), by Jonathan Swift. This satire essay suggested eating babies to solve famine in Ireland. It was intended to mock the heartless attitudes of the rich towards the poor and also the way in which some genuine proposals seemed to regard the poor as commodities.

Menippean satire (named for the Greek Cynic philosopher Menippus) attacks mental attitudes and biases rather than specific individuals or groups. It tends to involve cheerful, intellectual humor and gentle ridicule.

Example: Alice in Wonderland (1865), by Lewis Caroll, subtly pokes fun at all sorts of ideas. For instance, the part where Alice struggles with her multiplication tables is actually having fun at the expense of abstract mathematics — her sums would be correct in base-18 instead of the base-10 we use.

15 More Satire Examples

We’ve already seen three satire examples, but let’s take a look at some further examples of satire in action so you can see just how varied it can be.

We’ll be covering everything from contemporary TV shows to classic novels.

Satire Examples in Film & TV

1. the simpsons (1989 onwards).

The Simpsons may not seem like a hotbed for satire at first glance, but it deftly satirizes everyday life.

This satire piece takes on family, TV, religion, politics, and the American lifestyle in general. Various episodes tackle specific issues like gun control, environmentalism, corruption, and much more.

Check out the “Standardized Tests” clip for a satire on the testing of children, with quotes like Superintendent Chalmers saying, “Your scores on this test will determine how much money this suck-shack gets for years to come.”

2. South Park (1997 onwards)

This animated sitcom from Comedy Central is well known for its profanity, dark and surreal humor , and its no-holds-barred criticism of controversial issues.

It satirizes a wide range of topics, including a number of religions, politics, and specific topical issues like immigration, the right-to-die, online gaming, the legalization of marijuana, the absurdity of social media and much more.

The satirical piece led to some people thinking it was a child’s cartoon in its early years, but it’s very much intended for a mature audience.

3. Dr. Strangelove (1964)

This black comedy, directed, produced, and co-written by Stanley Kubrick, satirizes the Cold War fears of a nuclear war between the US and the Soviet Union.

Like a lot of satire, it has absurdist elements.

4. Fight Club (1999)

Based on the 1996 novel by Chuck Palahniuk, Fight Club takes aim at toxic masculinity, consumerism, capitalism, and a certain nihilistic Gen-X point of view.

The film involves the unnamed narrator plus his mysterious friend, Tyler Durden, establishing an underground fight club.

If you’ve never seen the film (or read the book), be aware that there’s a big twist toward the end — watch it before you come across any spoilers.

The above (spoiler-free) clip of Tyler Durden describing what he sees as wrong with the modern world shows the film taking on consumerism.

5. The Cabin In The Woods (2012)

This comedy/horror film from Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard seems to stick blindly to horror stereotypes.

But all is not as it seems, and it soon becomes clear that the film is satirizing all-too-common horror tropes (and even our love for horror). I won’t spoil the film for you, but if you haven’t seen it, it’s well worth a watch — whether or not you’re a horror fan.

Satire Examples in Literature

6. Gulliver’s Travels (Jonathan Swift, 1726)

This popular novel , still read today, is a mock travel journal .

The eponymous Gulliver travels through various strange lands, starting with Lilliput, where he is held prisoner by tiny people less than 6 inches tall.

Swift mocks politics and religion in particular — taking aim at schisms in the church by depicting a bitter conflict between “Big-Endians” who persist in opening their boiled eggs at the large end, and “Little-Endians” who have switched to opening eggs at the small end. This satirized the Protestant-Catholic divide in the UK.

7. Brave New World (Aldous Huxley, 1932)

This dystopian fantasy fiction novel has a futuristic society that exaggerates and satirizes elements of the real world: Huxley imagined how a highly state-controlled futuristic world might look.

It depicts conformity, a caste system with genetically engineered babies, and a drugged, compliant population.

8. Animal Farm (George Orwell, 1945)

An anti-utopian satire, Animal Farm is a novella based on the Russian Bolshevik revolution.

It depicts a group of farmyard animals who overthrow their masters — but who eventually end up being ruled by an oppressive dictatorship of pigs.

9. Slaughterhouse-Five (Kurt Vonnegut, 1969)

This fantasy fiction, anti-war, novel uses black humor, satire, and absurdity to cover broad themes like the second world war, the philosophical question of whether free will exists, and the inevitability of death.

10. American Psycho (Bret Easton Ellis, 1991)

This novel, told in the first person by serial killer Patrick Bateman, uses satire to critique capitalism and consumerism, in a similar way to Fight Club.

Due to its violence and explicit subject matter, it became one of the most banned books of all time. The 2000 film version established Patrick Bateman as a pop culture icon.

Political Satire Examples

11. Saturday Night Live (US)

This late-night comedy show includes plenty of sketches that use satire to mock or comment on current events, contemporary politics, and society’s flaws. Not all their sketches are strictly speaking satire, some are just plain funny.

Here’s their memorable sketch satirizing Sarah Palin, Hilary Clinton, and political discourse in general in 2013:

12. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (US)

This late-night talk show includes satirical news at the start with a run-through of recent headlines (similar to The Colbert Report, the show’s precursor or The Daily Show with Trevor Noah).

13. The Onion (US)

This satirical online newspaper includes plenty of political satire examples, with articles like “L.A. Mayor Prevents His Kid From Lazing About By Installing Spikes on Family Couch” — a reference to Mayor Eric Garcetti’s hostile architecture policies.

There are also lots of articles that satirize human nature and people’s stupidity.

14. Yes Minister (UK)

This classic political satire series ran from 1980 to 1982 and is still enjoyed today. It deals with the internal workings of a (fictional) government department, satirizing the way in which central government works.

15. US News’s political cartoons

Like many newspapers, US News publishes satirical political cartoons. These take aim at current events, prominent politicians, and the handling of issues like Covid.

The Difference Between Satire & Parody

Although they’re similar literary terms, satire and parody have distict difference:

A satire pokes fun at or criticizes an individual, group, or way of thinking. It’s often political. It’s designed to bring to light a broader issue or problem in society.

A parody pokes fun at a particular literary work, artist, or genre.

Like satire, it uses hyperbole and humor. But it doesn’t attempt to comment on deeper themes or wider implications.

Parody doesn’t generally make a social or political point. For instance, the book (and film) Pride and Prejudice with Zombies is an (affectionate) parody of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice .

Of course, there’s some overlap between satire and parody.

The film Cabin in the Woods could be seen as a parody (of horror films in general) as well as being classed as a satirical horror film.

But you can have parody without satire, and satire without parody.

How Can You Apply These Satire Examples to Your Writing?

Satire can be a great way to make a memorable point. It can push home an important message without sounding preachy or boring.

What types of satire would you experiment within your own writing?

Maybe you’re drawn to gentle Horatian satire — or perhaps you’d rather write an incisive Juvenalian satire.

You could take aim at a much-disliked trend in your niche through a satirical news story, for instance. Or you could use gentle satire to help the reader understand what they’re doing wrong.

You don’t have to write a full-on satirical post, like The Onion. Instead, you might look at ways to include exaggeration, witty humor, or ridicule in your creative writing .

Why not give satirical writing a try in your next blog post ?

Literary Devices , Writing

This post was originally published on September 20th, 2021 by Ali Luke. It has been updated for clarity and comprehensiveness. 

Having been a freelancer for 15+ years, Ali Luke understands the need to laugh at herself (and others!) every now and then. Doing research for this post on satire examples reminded her that life doesn't have to be so serious all the time.

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Crafting Wit and Wisdom: A Guide to Satire Essay, Topics and Examples

Table of contents

• 1 Definition of satire and its historical background
• 2 Elements of a Satirical Essay
• 3 Choosing a Topic
• 4 Analyzing the Subject Matter for Potential Angles of Satire
• 5 Writing the Essay
• 6 What is a Satirical Essay: Examples of Satirical Essays
• 7 Fine Line Between Satire and Offensiveness
• 8 Concluding Thoughts: The Art of Writing the Satire Essay

In this insightful article, we delve into the realm of satire essays, a unique form of writing that blends criticism with humor.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

• Unveiling the essence of satire essay, its history, and types like Horatian and Juvenalian.
• Exploring the vital elements of a satirical essay, emphasizing a robust thesis, and the use of irony and sarcasm.
• Navigating the process of choosing engaging topics, including 50 hand-picked suggestions.
• Detailed guidance on structuring your satirical essay for maximum impact.
• Learning from examples of renowned satirical essays.
• Understanding the delicate balance between satire and sensitivity.

Join us as we explore these facets of satire essay writing, equipping you with the knowledge to create compelling, thought-provoking academic essays .

Definition of satire and its historical background

Satire, a literary genre known for its clever blend of humor and critique, has a rich history and diverse forms. Originating in ancient times, satire has been used to expose follies and vices in society, individuals, and institutions. The two main types of satire are Horatian and Juvenalian. Horatian satire, named after the Roman poet Horace, is characterized by a light-hearted and humorous tone, aiming more to amuse than to condemn. In contrast, Juvenalian satire, inspired by the Roman poet Juvenal, is more severe and abrasive, often expressing indignation and moral outrage.

The role of humor, irony, and exaggeration in satire cannot be overstated. These elements are tools for satirists to entertain, provoke thought, and challenge the status quo. For instance, exaggeration can highlight the absurdity of a situation, while irony can reveal contradictions and hypocrisies.

When considering topics for satire, it’s important to choose ones that resonate with the audience and remain relevant. Satire essay topics can range from light-hearted social commentary to more biting political criticism. The key is to select a subject that offers ample scope for humor and insightful critique. A satirical essay becomes an impactful tool for social commentary and change by selecting and handling these topics.

Elements of a Satirical Essay

A satirical essay is a unique fusion of humor and criticism woven to convey a thought-provoking message. Central to its success is a robust, clear thesis statement. This serves as the essay’s cornerstone, encapsulating the satirical argument. The thesis should be forthright and reflect the writer’s stance on the subject matter, whether it’s tinged with mockery, a critical edge, or a humorous slant.

The employment of rhetorical devices like irony, sarcasm, and parody is integral to the essence of a satirical essay. Irony stands out as a potent tool. It enables writers to express one thing while implying something else, often the opposite. This juxtaposition of the literal and the intended meaning adds layers to the satire, enriching its impact. Sarcasm, a variant of verbal irony, is adept at mocking or expressing disdain. On the other hand, parody involves imitating a subject or style to expose its flaws and absurdities.

A satirical essay is a clever blend of humor and critique, anchored by a clear, strong thesis and brought to life with the strategic use of rhetorical devices like irony, sarcasm, and parody. The choice of topic is crucial, as it needs to lend itself to satirical treatment, allowing the writer to lampoon the subject while engaging and enlightening the reader.

Choosing a Topic

The best topics for a satirical essay are those that resonate with your audience and remain relevant over time. Current events, social behaviors, and cultural phenomena are fertile grounds for satire. While choosing, consider what things to write a satire about that would engage and provoke thought in your readers. The effectiveness of your satire will depend on the relevance and universality of the topic selected.

When considering satire ideas, the topics should be chosen for their potential to be viewed through a satirical lens. This could involve turning a critical eye on societal norms, political policies, or even everyday absurdities. Funny satire topics revolve around current events, popular culture, or universal human behaviors, offering a wealth of material for insightful yet humorous critique.

Satirical essay ideas should aim to entertain, provoke thought, and encourage reflection. Topics to satirize can range from the mundane to the controversial, each offering a unique opportunity to highlight inconsistencies, hypocrisies, or the humorous side of life.

Here are some current and timeless topics that work well for satirical essays.

• The Perpetual Pursuit of the Perfect Body Image
• The Digital Detox: Escaping Social Media’s Grip
• The Billionaire Space Race: A New Playground for the Rich
• Fast Fashion Frenzy: The Race to the Bottom of Your Closet
• The Automation of Everything: When Robots Take Over Daily Tasks
• The Evolution of the Coffee Culture: From Bean to Obsession
• The “Influencer” Lifestyle: Reality vs. Instagram
• The Political Tug-of-War: A Satirical Look at Partisan Politics
• The Self-Help Paradox: More Books, Less Clarity
• The Tech Disconnect: Smartphones and the Illusion of Connection
• The Art of Procrastination in the Digital Age
• The College Admissions Arms Race: A Game of Prestige and Pressure
• The Corporate Buzzword Bingo: Synergy, Leverage, and Disruption
• The Quest for Immortality: Silicon Valley and the Fountain of Youth
• The Satire of Surveillance: Living in a Panopticon
• The Cult of Productivity: Doing More, Enjoying Less
• The Modern Dating Scene: Swiping Left on Romance
• The Vegan Revolution: Meatless Mondays and Beyond
• The Age of Misinformation: Navigating a Post-Truth World
• The Gig Economy Grind: Freedom or Freelance Frenzy?
• The Generation Gap: Baby Boomers vs. Millennials vs. Gen Z
• The Reality TV Paradox: Fame, Fortune, and Fabrication
• The Luxury of Minimalism: Spending More to Have Less
• The Endless Streaming Cycle: From Binge-Watching to Burnout
• The Battle Against Aging: Creams, Serums, and Unrealistic Expectations
• The Festival of Fads: Detoxes, Cleanses, and Other Health Mysteries
• The Tyranny of the Tidy: Marie Kondo and the Quest to Declutter
• The Irony of Connectivity: Lonelier in a More Connected World
• The Mirage of the “Perfect” Family on Social Media
• The Paradox of Choice in the Modern Consumer Society
• The DIY Disaster: When Pinterest Dreams Face Reality
• The Pursuit of Happiness Through Retail Therapy
• The Sacred Rituals of the Morning Routine YouTube Gurus
• The Mock Election: Satirizing Political Campaign Promises
• The Superhero Syndrome: The Oversaturation of Comic Book Movies
• The Great Organic Odyssey: Is It Really Better?
• The Exotic Pet Epidemic: From Tigers to Tarantulas
• The High Seas of Hobby Collecting: From Stamps to Sneakers
• The Dystopia of Driverless Cars: Are We There Yet?
• The Parable of the Paperless Office: More Paper Than Ever

Analyzing the Subject Matter for Potential Angles of Satire

Once you’ve selected a topic, the next step is to analyze it for satirical potential. Begin by identifying the subject’s inherent absurdities, hypocrisies, or contradictions. This critical examination allows you to uncover potential angles for satirical commentary. For example, in political satire, you might focus on discrepancies between a politician’s words and actions. In cultural satire, you could highlight the extremes of societal trends. This stage is vital as it sets the foundation for your satirical approach, shaping the direction and tone of your essay.

Remember, the goal is to provoke thought and discussion by presenting familiar issues in a new, humorous light. Your analysis should strike a balance between humor and insight, ensuring that your satire resonates with the audience while offering a fresh perspective on the topic.

Writing the Essay

Writing a satirical essay involves a strategic combination of humor, criticism, and a well-structured satirical essay outline . Begin with an engaging introduction that captures the essence of your satire. This could include an anecdote, a surprising fact, or a bold statement setting your essay’s tone. The introduction should culminate in a clear, concise thesis statement that encapsulates your satirical stance.

As you move into the body of your essay, each paragraph should focus on a specific aspect or example of your topic. This is where you can showcase different types of satire, such as irony, exaggeration, or parody, to strengthen your argument. Use vivid and descriptive language to paint a clear picture for your readers. Incorporating real-life examples or referencing satirical essay examples can illustrate your points. Balancing humor with factual information is important, ensuring your essay is entertaining and informative.

Consider using various rhetorical strategies to enhance your satire when developing your argument. Techniques like hyperbole can exaggerate your topic’s absurdities, while irony can highlight contradictions and inconsistencies. Sarcasm can add a sharp edge to your critique. Remember, the goal is to provoke thought and encourage a deeper understanding of the subject matter through humor.

In the concluding paragraph, summarize the main points of your essay, reinforcing your satirical message. The conclusion should echo your thesis and leave a lasting impression on the reader. A well-crafted conclusion will tie all your ideas together, emphasizing the significance of your satire and its impact on the reader’s perception of the topic.

Throughout your essay, maintain a consistent tone and style. The best satire essays are those that blend wit with wisdom, using humor as a tool to shed light on serious topics.

What is a Satirical Essay: Examples of Satirical Essays

The satirical essay genre blends humor with incisive social commentary. This essay leverages wit to critique everything from political policies to societal norms, often revealing underlying truths in an entertaining and thought-provoking way.

A classic satire essay example is Jonathan Swift’s “A Modest Proposal ,” a pinnacle of Juvenalian satire. Swift’s essay, known for its biting and ironic tone, suggests that the impoverished Irish could alleviate their financial woes by selling their children as delicacies to the wealthy. This preposterous idea is not a whimsical musing but a sharp indictment of the brutal British policies towards the Irish and a comment on the apathy of the Irish people to their own plight.

This essay is a prime illustration of how to start a satire essay. Swift adopts a grave and sincere tone to advance an absurd proposition. This stark contrast between his tone and the ludicrousness of his proposal accentuates the absurdity of the situation he critiques. This strategic use of irony, where the true intent is veiled behind an opposite statement, is common in satirical essays. It allows writers to deliver powerful critiques in an engaging and impactful manner.

Another form of satire is Horatian satire, deriving its name from the Roman poet Horace. This type of satire differs from the abrasive Juvenalian style. A more playful, lighthearted approach characterizes Horatian satire. It tends to poke fun at human foibles and follies without aiming to cause distress or provoke significant change. It’s a more subdued and humorous satire, intending more to amuse than agitate.

For authors drafting a satirical essay, the choice of satire type is vital. It should align with both the subject matter and the intended message.

By analyzing seminal works like Swift’s “A Modest Proposal,” writers can learn to employ satire, creating works that are not just humorous but also insightful and thought-provoking. Effective satire has the power to be an influential tool for social commentary and change, making it a valuable and enduring form of literary expression.

Fine Line Between Satire and Offensiveness

Navigating the delicate boundary separating satire from offensiveness is paramount. While satire wields the potential for profound impact, it teeters on the edge of insensitivity. Responsible satirists know their audience and the broader context, ensuring their work critiques without inflicting harm. When addressing sensitive subjects, a delicate equilibrium is required. Satire becomes a tool for enlightenment rather than alienation or offense, using humor to shed light on societal issues without causing undue distress.

Concluding Thoughts: The Art of Writing the Satire Essay

In summary, the art of satire is a powerful yet intricate tool, merging humor with sharp social observation. Its core objective is to question established norms and provoke self-reflection. To write an effective satire essay, one must balance insightful critique with an approach that avoids offending. This genre requires a delicate touch, using wit and irony to make a point. An essential aspect of crafting a satirical piece involves creating a well-structured outline that supports the satirical thesis while engaging the reader. The creators and consumers of satire need to appreciate its significant potential to influence and its inherent responsibility towards society. Satire is not a literary device but a call to use its capabilities with wisdom and consideration.

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How to Write a Satire Essay: Examples, Outline and Topics

Ever wondered how to craft those hilarious yet thought-provoking satire essays that leave readers chuckling and pondering? Well, you've come to the right place!

Have you ever found yourself chuckling at the absurdities of life and thought, 'Hmm, there's definitely an essay in that'? Ever pondered how humor could be used to shed light on societal quirks and injustices? If so, you're already on your way to mastering the art of satire writing.

In this guide, you'll learn the ins and outs of writing satire essay examples. We'll cover everything from choosing the perfect topic to mastering the satire techniques. So, grab your pen, and let's have some fun being funny together.

What is a Satire Essay

A satire essay blends humor with social commentary to critique societal issues, human behavior, or institutions. Unlike traditional essays, it aims to entertain while highlighting life's absurdities.

This genre of writing uses wit, irony, sarcasm, and exaggeration to expose flaws and contradictions in society, targeting politics, popular culture, social norms, and human nature. It also addresses serious topics humorously, sparking conversation, inspiring change, and drawing attention to important social issues.

Satire essays come in various forms, from biting political critique to playful social commentary. Whether it's through clever wordplay, absurd scenarios, or biting satire, the goal of you as an essay writer is to entertain, enlighten, and challenge readers to see the world in a new light.

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Types of a Satire Essay

Learning how to write a satire essay requires you to understand its different forms, each with its own unique style and approach to humorously critiquing society. Whether you ask us to write my essay or tackle it yourself, understanding its different types can help you choose the best format for conveying your message effectively. Here are some common types:

• Juvenalian Satire : This type of satire is harsh, bitter, and angry, focusing on exposing societal injustices, hypocrisy, and corruption.
• Horatian Satire : Named after the Roman poet Horace, this satire is lighthearted, playful, and witty, aiming to amuse while gently poking fun at human folly and societal absurdities.
• Menippean Satire : This satire is complex and unconventional, combining prose, verse, and various literary genres to critique society from multiple angles.
• Political Satire : Political satire humorously highlights the absurdities of politics, aiming to provoke thought and inspire change through parody and humor.
• Social Satire : Social satire critiques broader societal issues and cultural norms, such as relationships, consumerism, and technology, to prompt reflection on societal absurdities.
• Literary Satire : Literary satire uses literary conventions to critique traditions, genres, and authors, often through parody and metafiction.
• Visual Satire : Using images, cartoons, and caricatures, visual satire conveys satirical messages through humor and symbolism, often seen in political cartoons and memes.

25 Satirical Essay Topics

The topic you choose sets the stage for your humor and social commentary. From politics to pop culture, there's no shortage of informative essay topics that are also ripe for satirical critique. Here are 25 distinctive satirical essay ideas to inspire your satire:

• The Absurdity of Celebrity Culture : Explore the obsession with fame and the cult of celebrity.
• The Folly of Fashion Trends : Poke fun at the ever-changing world of fashion and beauty standards.
• The Myth of Perfect Parenting : Satirize the pressure to be a perfect parent in the age of social media.
• The Madness of Modern Technology : Lampoon our addiction to smartphones and social media.
• The Dystopia of Dating Apps : Examine the pitfalls of online dating and hookup culture.
• The Hilarity of Health Trends : Satirize the latest wellness fads and diet crazes.
• The Chaos of College Admissions : Explore the absurdities of the college application process.
• The Paradox of Political Correctness : Critique the complexities of navigating political correctness in today's society.
• The Irony of Environmental Activism : Satirize the contradictions inherent in environmental activism and green living.
• The Comedy of Corporate Culture : Examine the quirks and absurdities of office life and corporate culture.
• The Farce of Fashion Weeks : Lampoon the extravagance and pretentiousness of fashion weeks around the world.
• The Lunacy of Reality TV : Poke fun at the manufactured drama and shallowness of reality television.
• The Nonsense of Self-Help Books : Satirize the industry of self-help books and motivational seminars.
• The Ridiculousness of Social Justice Warriors : Critique the extremes of social justice activism and virtue signaling.
• The Comedy of Conspiracy Theories : Explore the bizarre world of conspiracy theories and their believers.
• The Absurdity of Gender Stereotypes : Satirize traditional gender roles and societal expectations.
• The Hypocrisy of Holistic Healing : Examine the contradictions of alternative medicine and holistic healing practices.
• The Parody of Political Campaigns : Poke fun at the theatrics and absurdities of political campaigns and election cycles.
• The Comedy of Class Reunions : Lampoon the nostalgia and awkwardness of high school reunions.
• The Folly of Fast Food Culture : Satirize the excesses and consequences of fast food consumption.
• The Madness of Memes : Explore the cultural significance and absurdity of internet memes.
• The Farce of Fashion Magazines : Critique the unrealistic beauty standards and consumerism promoted by fashion magazines.
• The Hilarity of Home Renovation Shows : Poke fun at the exaggerated transformations and drama of home renovation reality shows.
• The Paradox of Patriotism : Satirize the contradictions of nationalism and patriotic fervor.
• The Comedy of Cults and Communes : Examine the absurdities of fringe religious movements and utopian communities.

How to Write a Satire Essay: Outline Guide

Creating a solid satirical essay is like serving up a delicious dish of humor with a side of social commentary. But where do you start? How do you take your witty observations and turn them into a compelling satire essay? Fear not! In this section, we'll break down how to write a satire essay outline step by step, starting with crafting the perfect thesis statement.

Start with a Thesis Statement 

Writing a satire essay thesis statement is about encapsulating your satirical take on a particular issue or topic in a clear and concise manner. Your thesis statement should capture the essence of your satire – the target of your humor and the underlying message you're trying to convey.

For example, let's say you want to write a satire essay about the obsession with social media. Your thesis statement might be something like: 'In a world where likes and retweets reign supreme, social media becomes the ultimate stage for showcasing our most curated selves, blurring the lines between reality and virtual validation.'

This thesis statement sets the stage for your satire by highlighting the absurdity of our social media-driven culture and the disconnect between our online personas and real-life experiences. It presents a clear viewpoint that you'll then explore and dissect throughout your essay with humor and wit.

So, next time when crafting your thesis statement or asking us to write my thesis , remember to:

• Identify the specific issue or topic you want to satirize.
• Express your satirical take on the issue in a clear and concise manner.
• Ensure your thesis statement sets the tone for the rest of your essay and guides your readers toward your humorous critique.

Explain Your Idea in the First Body Paragraph

Now that you know how to start a satire essay and lay the foundation with your thesis statement, it's time to dive into the first body paragraph. Begin by expanding on the central idea introduced in your thesis statement. Keep the tone light and playful, but also ensure that your satire is rooted in truth and relevance.

Continuing with our example thesis statement about social media obsession, the first body paragraph might delve into the ways in which social media platforms have become integral parts of our daily lives. You could discuss the addictive nature of scrolling through feeds, the pressure to curate the perfect online persona, and the impact of social media on mental health and self-esteem.

Use descriptive language and vivid imagery to paint a picture of the absurdities inherent in the topic you're exploring. Highlight contradictions, hypocrisies, or ironies that underscore the satirical angle of your essay.

For instance, you might describe the lengths people go to for the perfect selfie or the absurdity of chasing virtual likes and validation. You could share personal anecdotes or humorous observations to bring the topic to life and engage your readers' imaginations.

Add More Layers in the Second Body Paragraph 

Building upon the groundwork laid in the first satire essay paragraph, this section allows you to explore additional facets of the topic and further develop your satirical critique. Start by identifying specific examples, scenarios, or observations that illustrate the absurdities or contradictions inherent in the topic you're satirizing.

Here, you might focus on the ways in which social media distorts our perceptions of reality and fuels a culture of comparison and envy. You could discuss the phenomenon of "FOMO" (fear of missing out) and the pressure to present a flawless image online, even if it's far from authentic.

You might also share stories of people going to extreme lengths to capture the perfect Instagram photo or the impact of cyberbullying and online harassment on mental health.

As you write the second body paragraph, strive to maintain a balance between humor and substance. Use humor to engage your readers and keep them entertained, but also provide meaningful commentary that prompts reflection and critical thinking.

Wrap Up with Impact 

As you wonder how to end a satire essay, remember to summarize the key points you've made about the topic at hand.

For example, in our satire essay about social media obsession, the conclusion might reiterate the pitfalls of seeking validation through likes and retweets, emphasizing the importance of authenticity and genuine human connection in a digital age.

Reflect on the broader implications of the topic you've explored and offer insights or suggestions for addressing the issues raised in your satire. This could involve proposing alternative approaches or solutions in a humorous manner, providing a sense of closure and hope amidst the laughter.

Finally, consider the overall impact of your satire essay and the emotions it evokes in your audience. Did you succeed in entertaining, enlightening, and provoking thought? Did you strike the right balance between humor and substance? Now that you know how to write a conclusion for an essay , reflect on your writing process and consider how you can continue to refine your skills as a satirist.

Handy Tips and Tricks

Before you begin making funny comments about society, let's talk about some easy tips to help you start. Writing a satire essay is all about being funny, using irony, and being a bit smart. If you need some assistance, you can ask us to help me do my essay . But for now, let's take a closer look at how you can improve your skills.

• Pick Your Focus : Satire works best when you make fun of something specific in society that you find funny or annoying.
• Try Different Things : Use different ways to be funny, like making jokes, using irony, or exaggerating things.
• Keep an Eye Out : Pay attention to what's happening around you for ideas. Satire often comes from real-life events or how people act.
• Look at Things Differently : Try writing from different viewpoints, like pretending to be a silly politician or a funny commentator.
• Have Fun : Remember, satire is all about having a good time and making people laugh. So, enjoy yourself and don't take it too seriously.

Satire Essay Examples

Through humor and wit, these satire essay examples offer insightful critiques of their respective subjects, demonstrating effective techniques for crafting satirical commentary.

4 Satire Essay Examples from World Literature

Satire is a popular tool in world literature, where famous writers use humor and irony to poke fun at society and human foolishness. Let's look at some well-known satire essay examples from literature and see how they work:

• 'Gulliver's Travels' by Jonathan Swift : Swift's 'Gulliver's Travels' is a political satire masterpiece. Through Lemuel Gulliver's wild adventures, Swift mocks 18th-century British society and human nature. One famous episode is Gulliver's visit to Lilliput, where tiny inhabitants squabble over silly things like how to crack an egg. Swift uses these absurdities to show the silliness of politics and people.
• 'Don Quixote' by Miguel de Cervantes : Cervantes' 'Don Quixote' pokes fun at chivalric romance. The main character, Don Quixote, is a delusional knight who goes on crazy quests to revive chivalry. Through his funny adventures, Cervantes criticizes the exaggerated ideals of honor and love. The book shows how fantasy can clash with reality in funny ways.
• 'Animal Farm' by George Orwell : Orwell's 'Animal Farm' is a powerful satire on totalitarianism. Animals rebel against humans on a farm, but soon, pigs take over and become dictators. Orwell uses the animals to represent political figures and ideas, showing the hypocrisy of authoritarian rule.
• 'Candide' by Voltaire : Voltaire's 'Candide' is a sharp satire on Enlightenment optimism. The main character, Candide, faces tragic and absurd situations but still believes everything is great. Through Candide's crazy adventures, Voltaire mocks the blind optimism of his time, revealing the harsh truths of human suffering and foolishness.

Final Words

Give yourself a pat on the back – you made it to the end of our writing adventure! With your sense of humor and a fresh understanding of life's funny quirks, you're all set to let your creativity loose on the page.

Just a friendly reminder: Satire isn't just about making jokes – it's a way to start conversations, question the status quo, and maybe even shake things up a bit. So, don't hold back! Try out different styles, go where your imagination takes you, and most importantly, be yourself.

Bored of the Same Old Essays?

Time to shake things up! Inject some humor into your academic life with our side-splitting satire essays.

How to Write a Satirical Essay?

What is a satirical essay, what is a good satire essay topic.

Daniel Parker

is a seasoned educational writer focusing on scholarship guidance, research papers, and various forms of academic essays including reflective and narrative essays. His expertise also extends to detailed case studies. A scholar with a background in English Literature and Education, Daniel’s work on EssayPro blog aims to support students in achieving academic excellence and securing scholarships. His hobbies include reading classic literature and participating in academic forums.

is an expert in nursing and healthcare, with a strong background in history, law, and literature. Holding advanced degrees in nursing and public health, his analytical approach and comprehensive knowledge help students navigate complex topics. On EssayPro blog, Adam provides insightful articles on everything from historical analysis to the intricacies of healthcare policies. In his downtime, he enjoys historical documentaries and volunteering at local clinics.

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Binyavanga Wainaina Tells Us 'How To Write About Africa'

Editor's note: Kenyan author Binyavanga Wainaina died on Tuesday, May 22 after an illness. Perhaps his most acclaimed work was the satiric essay "How To Write About Africa," which we are reprinting.

Kenyan author Binyavanga Wainaina, who died on Tuesday. "How To Write About Africa" is perhaps his most famous essay. "Whichever angle you take," he urged, tongue-in-cheek, "be sure to leave the strong impression that without your intervention and your important book, Africa is doomed." Simon Maina/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

Kenyan author Binyavanga Wainaina, who died on Tuesday. "How To Write About Africa" is perhaps his most famous essay. "Whichever angle you take," he urged, tongue-in-cheek, "be sure to leave the strong impression that without your intervention and your important book, Africa is doomed."

Always use the word 'Africa' or 'Darkness' or 'Safari' in your title. Subtitles may include the words 'Zanzibar,' 'Masai,' 'Zulu,' 'Zambezi,' 'Congo,' 'Nile,' 'Big,' 'Sky,' 'Shadow,' 'Drum,' 'Sun' or 'Bygone.' Also useful are words such as 'Guerrillas,' 'Timeless,' 'Primordial' and 'Tribal.' Note that 'People' means Africans who are not black, while 'The People' means black Africans.

Never have a picture of a well-adjusted African on the cover of your book, or in it, unless that African has won the Nobel Prize. An AK-47, prominent ribs, naked breasts: use these. If you must include an African, make sure you get one in Masai or Zulu or Dogon dress.

In your text, treat Africa as if it were one country. It is hot and dusty with rolling grasslands and huge herds of animals and tall, thin people who are starving. Or it is hot and steamy with very short people who eat primates. Don't get bogged down with precise descriptions. Africa is big: fifty-four countries, 900 million people who are too busy starving and dying and warring and emigrating to read your book. The continent is full of deserts, jungles, highlands, savannahs and many other things, but your reader doesn't care about all that, so keep your descriptions romantic and evocative and unparticular.

Binyavanga Wainaina, Kenyan Writer And LGBTQ Activist, Dies At 48

Make sure you show how Africans have music and rhythm deep in their souls, and eat things no other humans eat. Do not mention rice and beef and wheat; monkey-brain is an African's cuisine of choice, along with goat, snake, worms and grubs and all manner of game meat. Make sure you show that you are able to eat such food without flinching, and describe how you learn to enjoy it — because you care.

Taboo subjects: ordinary domestic scenes, love between Africans (unless a death is involved), references to African writers or intellectuals, mention of school-going children who are not suffering from yaws or Ebola fever or female genital mutilation.

Throughout the book, adopt a sotto voice, in conspiracy with the reader, and a sad I-expected-so-much tone. Establish early on that your liberalism is impeccable, and mention near the beginning how much you love Africa, how you fell in love with the place and can't live without her. Africa is the only continent you can love — take advantage of this. If you are a man, thrust yourself into her warm virgin forests. If you are a woman, treat Africa as a man who wears a bush jacket and disappears off into the sunset. Africa is to be pitied, worshipped or dominated. Whichever angle you take, be sure to leave the strong impression that without your intervention and your important book, Africa is doomed.

Your African characters may include naked warriors, loyal servants, diviners and seers, ancient wise men living in hermitic splendour. Or corrupt politicians, inept polygamous travel-guides, and prostitutes you have slept with. The Loyal Servant always behaves like a seven-year-old and needs a firm hand; he is scared of snakes, good with children, and always involving you in his complex domestic dramas. The Ancient Wise Man always comes from a noble tribe (not the money-grubbing tribes like the Gikuyu, the Igbo or the Shona). He has rheumy eyes and is close to the Earth. The Modern African is a fat man who steals and works in the visa office, refusing to give work permits to qualified Westerners who really care about Africa. He is an enemy of development, always using his government job to make it difficult for pragmatic and good-hearted expats to set up NGOs or Legal Conservation Areas. Or he is an Oxford-educated intellectual turned serial-killing politician in a Savile Row suit. He is a cannibal who likes Cristal champagne, and his mother is a rich witch-doctor who really runs the country.

Among your characters you must always include The Starving African, who wanders the refugee camp nearly naked, and waits for the benevolence of the West. Her children have flies on their eyelids and pot bellies, and her breasts are flat and empty. She must look utterly helpless. She can have no past, no history; such diversions ruin the dramatic moment. Moans are good. She must never say anything about herself in the dialogue except to speak of her (unspeakable) suffering. Also be sure to include a warm and motherly woman who has a rolling laugh and who is concerned for your well-being. Just call her Mama. Her children are all delinquent. These characters should buzz around your main hero, making him look good. Your hero can teach them, bathe them, feed them; he carries lots of babies and has seen Death. Your hero is you (if reportage), or a beautiful, tragic international celebrity/aristocrat who now cares for animals (if fiction).

Bad Western characters may include children of Tory cabinet ministers, Afrikaners, employees of the World Bank. When talking about exploitation by foreigners mention the Chinese and Indian traders. Blame the West for Africa's situation. But do not be too specific.

Broad brushstrokes throughout are good. Avoid having the African characters laugh, or struggle to educate their kids, or just make do in mundane circumstances. Have them illuminate something about Europe or America in Africa. African characters should be colourful, exotic, larger than life — but empty inside, with no dialogue, no conflicts or resolutions in their stories, no depth or quirks to confuse the cause.

Describe, in detail, naked breasts (young, old, conservative, recently raped, big, small) or mutilated genitals, or enhanced genitals. Or any kind of genitals. And dead bodies. Or, better, naked dead bodies. And especially rotting naked dead bodies. Remember, any work you submit in which people look filthy and miserable will be referred to as the 'real Africa,' and you want that on your dust jacket. Do not feel queasy about this: you are trying to help them to get aid from the West. The biggest taboo in writing about Africa is to describe or show dead or suffering white people.

Animals, on the other hand, must be treated as well rounded, complex characters. They speak (or grunt while tossing their manes proudly) and have names, ambitions and desires. They also have family values: see how lions teach their children? Elephants are caring, and are good feminists or dignified patriarchs. So are gorillas. Never, ever say anything negative about an elephant or a gorilla. Elephants may attack people's property, destroy their crops, and even kill them. Always take the side of the elephant. Big cats have public-school accents. Hyenas are fair game and have vaguely Middle Eastern accents. Any short Africans who live in the jungle or desert may be portrayed with good humour (unless they are in conflict with an elephant or chimpanzee or gorilla, in which case they are pure evil).

After celebrity activists and aid workers, conservationists are Africa's most important people. Do not offend them. You need them to invite you to their 30,000-acre game ranch or 'conservation area,' and this is the only way you will get to interview the celebrity activist. Often a book cover with a heroic-looking conservationist on it works magic for sales. Anybody white, tanned and wearing khaki who once had a pet antelope or a farm is a conservationist, one who is preserving Africa's rich heritage. When interviewing him or her, do not ask how much funding they have; do not ask how much money they make off their game. Never ask how much they pay their employees.

Readers will be put off if you don't mention the light in Africa. And sunsets, the African sunset is a must. It is always big and red. There is always a big sky. Wide empty spaces and game are critical — Africa is the Land of Wide Empty Spaces. When writing about the plight of flora and fauna, make sure you mention that Africa is overpopulated. When your main character is in a desert or jungle living with indigenous peoples (anybody short) it is okay to mention that Africa has been severely depopulated by Aids and War (use caps).

You'll also need a nightclub called Tropicana, where mercenaries, evil nouveau riche Africans and prostitutes and guerrillas and expats hang out.

Always end your book with Nelson Mandela saying something about rainbows or renaissances. Because you care.

"How to Write about Africa" by Binyavanga Wainaina. Copyright © 2005 by Binyavanga Wainaina, used by permission of The Wylie Agency LLC.

• Binyavanga Wainaina

Home — Essay Types — Satire Essay

Satire Essay Examples

Satire essay topics and satire essay ideas are boundless, allowing for creative expression in various formats and lengths. However, it's crucial to maintain a delicate balance, ensuring that humor does not transform into rudeness. Satire should be a lighthearted, even nurturing approach to highlighting the absurd or inappropriate aspects of a subject. The ultimate goal is to shed light on why something is shameful or incorrect.

To achieve this, writers often employ literary devices such as irony, allegory, hyperbole, and metaphors to invite the audience to read between the lines. Satire frequently conveys a message different from its surface meaning, so it's important to choose words carefully when using irony. The essence of satire lies in its ability to provoke thought and laughter simultaneously.

As you brainstorm satirical essay ideas and satirical essay topics, consider subjects that can be approached with a touch of wit and humor, while still highlighting important issues or absurdities in society. By doing so, you can create thought-provoking and entertaining pieces that captivate your audience while delivering a meaningful commentary on the world around us.

Popular Topics for Satire Essays

Explore a diverse array of thought-provoking and humorous subjects that serve as perfect topics for satire essays. These topics offer ample material for crafting witty and insightful satirical pieces.

• The Absurdity of Social Media Influencer Culture
• The Perils of Modern Dating Apps
• Corporate Jargon and Buzzword Overload
• The Bizarre World of Celebrity Obsession
• Analysis of The Television Show "The Office"
• The Ridiculousness of Fashion Trends
• Over-the-Top Fitness and Diet Fads
• The Hilarity of Political Campaign Promises
• The Exaggerated Culture of Political Correctness
• The Comedic Side of Student Loan Debts
• The Presentation of Products to Consumers in The Onion Magnasoles: Rhetorical Analysis"
• The Quirks of Office Politics and Office Etiquette

Satire Topics for High School Students

When seeking inspiration for satire essay topics, high school students or anyone else can benefit from exploring satire essay samples.These examples of satire topics for high school students can provide valuable insights into effective satirical techniques and help generate fresh and engaging ideas.

Literature:

• The Inexplicable Popularity of SparkNotes and CliffsNotes
• The Dramatic Overanalysis of Shakespearean Sonnets in English Class
• The Misadventures of Students Trying to Interpret Symbolism in Classic Novels
• Comparing The Construction of Satire Through Naiveté
• The Puzzling Fascination with Cliffhangers in Young Adult Fiction
• The Chronicles of the Overused Book Report Clichés
• The Hilarious World of High School Student Council Elections
• The Absurdity of School Cafeteria Politics and Lunchtime Alliances
• The Bizarre Election Promises Made by Class President Candidates
• The Satirical Take on History Class and Revisionist History
• The Comedy of Errors in Mock United Nations Debates
• The Comedic Chronicle of Historical Misinterpretations in Textbooks
• The Secret Lives of Historical Figures: A Satirical Exposé
• The Time-Traveling Adventures of History Class: When Studying the Past Gets Weird
• The Great Historical Conspiracy Theories: Aliens, Time Travelers, and Other Explanations
• The Absurdity of Students Reenacting Historical Battles with Water Balloons

These satire topics provide a humorous take on various aspects of high school life, making them relatable and entertaining for high school students.

Remember, satire is a powerful tool for social commentary and humor, so it's essential to use it responsibly and thoughtfully. By staying within the bounds of humor and wit, you can create compelling satire essays that entertain and enlighten your audience without resorting to negativity or insult.

Writing a satirical essay presents a unique challenge that stands apart from other forms of writing. This genre requires not only a deep understanding of the subject matter but also a keen sense of humor and the ability to see the world through a critical, often ironic lens. Satirical essays aim to highlight the absurdities, hypocrisies, and flaws in society, politics, or human behavior, using humor as a tool to provoke thought and encourage change.

Unlike research essays, which aim to contribute new knowledge to a specific field through systematic inquiry and analysis, satirical essays use exaggeration and satire to underscore the absurdity and flaws within those very topics or in broader societal issues. Where proposal essays are structured to persuade or seek approval for initiatives with logical argumentation and evidence-based benefits, satirical essays skewer proposed solutions or existing conditions, highlighting their shortcomings or the ironic realities that underpin them.

The essence of a satirical essay lies in its ability to disguise critique within humor, making it a unique vehicle for social commentary. It challenges readers to question and reconsider the status quo, using laughter as a tool for reflection, rather than straightforward persuasion or the presentation of empirical research. This distinct difference sets satirical essays apart, making them not just a form of entertainment but a powerful medium for conveying complex critiques in an accessible and engaging manner.

What is a Satire Essay

Satire is a literary technique that employs humor, irony, and sarcasm to criticize or mock various aspects of society, politics, or human behavior. If you’re looking for inspiration for your satire essays , consider exploring satire essay examples and existing satire essays on various topics.

Contrary to popular belief, a satire essay is not about getting angry or bitter as you write about politics or some social issues that must be explained. The trick here is to explore existing satire essay topics that would help you come up with ideas. If you have never written satire in the past, you may be already provided with a topic to start with. In simple terms, a satire essay must criticize some subject by making it in a smart way where you talk about issues like procrastination or being too greedy. It has to be fun and not turn into a sort of bullying. Always show due respect as you structure things, as it will help you provide an excellent paper.

The Art and Power of Satire

Satire is a versatile and influential form of expression, frequently employed by writers and comedians to address serious issues indirectly. Let’s examine how it works, why it’s so popular, and explore some satire writing examples for a better understanding.

Understanding Satirical Elements

Satire typically utilizes the following elements:

• Exaggeration : Satire often takes real-life situations and exaggerates them to absurd proportions. This technique draws attention to the flaws or absurdities of the subject.
• Irony : Irony is a cornerstone of satire. It involves saying one thing but meaning another, creating a humorous contrast.
• Sarcasm : The use of biting humor and cutting remarks is a trademark of satire. Sarcasm is a potent tool for satirists to convey their message.
• Parody : Satire often mimics the style of its subject matter, creating a humorous imitation that highlights the subject’s flaws.

Satire has been a potent tool throughout history, addressing issues from politics to social norms. Its effectiveness lies in its ability to entertain and provoke thought simultaneously.

5 Satire Writing Examples

• The “Smart” Home Assistant:   

In this satire piece, imagine a world where smart home assistants have become so intelligent that they start giving unsolicited advice, judging your life choices, and offering condescending remarks. It humorously highlights the overreliance on technology and the invasion of privacy in the digital age.

• The “Healthy” Fast Food Chain:

Explore a fictional fast-food restaurant that claims to serve healthy alternatives, but in reality, their salads are drenched in more calories than a burger, and their smoothies are packed with sugar. This satire pokes fun at the deceptive marketing tactics used by some food establishments.

• The “Eco-Friendly” Space Travel Company:

Imagine a future where space tourism companies claim to be eco-friendly while launching rockets that spew massive amounts of pollution into the atmosphere. This satirical piece highlights the hypocrisy of industries that prioritize profit over environmental concerns.

• The “Innovative” Social Media Platform:

Create a satire of a fictional social media platform that constantly introduces new features, each more intrusive and time-consuming than the last. This piece satirizes the addictive nature of social media and the never-ending quest for user engagement.

• The “Superhero” Government Agency:

Craft a story about a government agency tasked with solving everyday inconveniences rather than addressing real issues. This satire highlights the bureaucracy and inefficiency often associated with government institutions.

These satirical essay examples provide a glimpse into the world of satirical writing, where humor and wit are used to comment on various aspects of society, culture, and human behavior.

How to Start a Satire Essay

Speaking of satire essay structure , you must remember that it should resemble the rules of creative writing or narrative papers.

Here is what you can do as you are about to start with a satire essay:

• Introduction with a strong sentence hook where you introduce a fictional person or a problem. 
• Talk about why it’s bad and explain things by providing several examples that we all know well. 
• Talk about how to avoid the problem by using some ideas why this or that is wrong. 
• Tell a story or provide another example by making things fun. 
• Provide a conclusion paragraph by explaining why something is wrong or pose a moral lesson. 

Remember, satire is all about using humor and irony to critique and comment on various aspects of society or human behavior. These prompts should inspire you to create a satirical essay that engages and amuses your readers while offering a unique perspective on the chosen topic. Explore free critical analysis essays to improve your understanding of satire and enhance your writing skills further

Prompts for a Satirical Essays

Social Media and Technology:

•  The Social Media Obsession: Explore the absurdities of our society’s obsession with social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. How has it affected our lives, self-esteem, and relationships?
• The Endless Quest for the Perfect Selfie: Explore the humorous side of our society’s obsession with taking the perfect selfie. How far are people willing to go for that flawless Instagram post?

Health and Wellness:

• The Ridiculous World of Fad Diets: Satirize the never-ending cycle of fad diets and weight loss trends. Are these diets truly effective, or are they just empty promises?
• The Fast-Food Frenzy: Take a humorous approach to the culture of fast food, addressing issues like overindulgence, health consequences, and the strange allure of the drive-thru.

Society and Cultural Trends:

• The Culture of Political Correctness: Explore the concept of political correctness and how it sometimes goes to extremes, leading to hilariously awkward situations and language policing.
• The Fantasy of Reality TV: Explore the surreal world of reality television and the way it blurs the line between real life and scripted entertainment. How does it shape our perceptions of reality?

How to Write a Satire Essay

Here are the steps to help you write a satire essay effectively:

Satire Essay Writing Checklist

Take a look at our checklist for a satire essay and explore our free examples of satire essays . It’s always much better to find out what good satire essay structure must be like!

• You introduce your topic by explaining why a certain problem exists.
• You provide at least one example of a problem in real-life or describe a fictional character.
• Make sure that there is no anger or offense.
• You keep your tone in a narrative and follow an explanatory way.
• You provide a moral lesson in the final paragraph by explaining things as to “why and how”.
• You edit and proofread your satire essay by checking for logical words and transitions between the paragraphs.

Remember that satire is a form of social commentary, and while it is humorous, it should still convey a message or critique a particular aspect of society or the subject you’re addressing. Use your creativity and wit to craft a compelling satire essay that effectively communicates your perspective while entertaining your readers. Think about exploring satire books in classic literature to see what modern subjects can be suitable. 

10 Free Satire Essay Examples

Funny satire essay examples.

Satire it’s a powerful form of expression that allows writers to poke fun at the quirks and absurdities of our world while delivering insightful social criticism. But satire doesn’t always have to be serious or solemn; it can be downright hilarious! These humorous satirical essay examples are crafted with the sole purpose of making you laugh out loud while offering a satirical take on various aspects of society, culture, and human behavior. 

Famous Satirical Essay Examples 

Famous satirical essay examples showcase the remarkable ability of satire to address serious issues indirectly. Through humor, irony, and sarcasm, these essays provide a lens through which we can examine the absurdities of society, politics, and human behavior. They invite us to question the status quo and see the world through a new and often amusing perspective

These topics provide a starting point for creating famous satirical essays that engage with timeless themes while offering fresh and humorous perspectives on contemporary issues.

Modern Satirical Essay Examples

Modern satirical essay examples capture the spirit of our digitally interconnected world. From social media antics to the challenges of remote work, these essays take a humorous look at the experiences and dilemmas of the 21st century. They highlight the ways technology, politics, and culture intersect in our daily lives

Satire essay examples like the ones mentioned above demonstrate how humor can be a powerful vehicle for social commentary. Satire’s ability to entertain while prompting critical thinking makes it a unique and valuable form of expression.

In conclusion, exploring free satire essays and satire essay examples can be both enlightening and entertaining. It reminds us of the power of humor in addressing serious issues and encourages us to view the world with a more critical eye. So, next time you come across a satire essay, remember that beneath the humor lies a deeper message waiting to be discovered.

Satirical Examination of Gun Control: A Loaded Debate

Introduction Gun control is one of the most contentious issues in contemporary American discourse. It is a subject that often polarizes the population, leading to heated debates between advocates of stricter regulations and proponents of the Second Amendment. Despite the gravity of the topic, satire…

Obesity: A Satirical Examination of Modern Lifestyle Choices

Introduction Obesity, often dubbed the epidemic of the 21st century, is a complex condition characterized by excessive body fat. While it is a serious public health issue, affecting millions worldwide and contributing to numerous health complications, it also provides an opportunity to reflect on the…

Of Ties and Tiaras: The Satirical Saga of Dress Codes

Introduction Dress codes, those ubiquitous mandates that dictate sartorial choices in educational and professional settings, have long been the subject of debate and dissent. Ostensibly designed to foster a conducive environment for learning and productivity, dress codes often tread a fine line between maintaining decorum…

Satire on Bullying

Bullying is a prevalent issue in society, especially among young people. It can have serious consequences for the victims, including emotional and psychological trauma. Satire, as a form of humor that uses irony and exaggeration to criticize and ridicule societal issues, can be a powerful…

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Voltaire’s Use of Satire in Candide

Voltaire’s novel, Candide, is a classic example of satire. Through the use of wit, humor, and irony, Voltaire challenges the prevailing ideas of his time and criticizes the societal norms and institutions of the 18th century. This essay will explore how Voltaire uses satire in…

Religious Satire in Huck Finn

One of the most debated aspects of the novel is the use of religious satire, particularly in relation to Christianity. In this essay, we will explore the religious satire present in the novel and examine its significance in the context of the story. Huck’s Relationship…

Satirical Elements in WALL-E

WALL-E, a 2008 animated film by Pixar, is often celebrated for its heartwarming story and stunning visuals. However, beneath its surface, the film also contains a number of satirical elements that comment on modern society. Through its portrayal of consumerism, environmental degradation, and human reliance…

What’s Wrong with Illegal Immigration: Satire

Illegal immigration is a topic that has been widely debated for decades. It refers to the act of entering a country without proper authorization or overstaying a visa. Illegal immigration is a significant issue, and it affects various aspects of society. From economics to security,…

The Satirical and Hopeful Message of Wall-E

Wall-E is a 2008 Pixar film that tells the story of a lonely robot that cleans up the trash-covered Earth while dreaming of finding love. Through its satirical portrayal of contemporary society, modern technology, and capitalism, Wall-E offers a thought-provoking commentary on the current state…

The High School Circus: A Satirical Perspective

High school, the place where young minds are nurtured, friendships are forged, and the foundations of adulthood are laid. Or at least, that’s what they want you to believe. In reality, high school is more like a three-ring circus where the clowns wear backpacks, the…

What is a satire essay?

Although you might have seen rude satirical essay examples, this kind of writing stands for polite fun. The idea of satire is to expose the moral sides of a topic. The most popular satire topics will revolve around politicians, absurd situations, human greed, or even Instagram stars. Most importantly, satire essays should not be insulting or angry in any case!

How to write a satire essay?

The most satire essay examples you will encounter will have a structure that starts with an engaging statement, a famous quote, or an anecdote. You may even tell a story you have seen in person by turning it into a narration. Choose funny satire topics with a light-hearted approach and keep things educational. It has to teach a good lesson!

What makes a satire essay effective?

A satire essay is a piece of writing that uses humor, irony, sarcasm, and exaggeration to criticize or mock a particular subject, such as societal issues, individuals, or institutions. The primary goal is to entertain and provoke thought while highlighting the flaws or absurdities of the subject.

What topics can I satirize in my essay?

You can satirize a wide range of topics, including social issues, politics, popular culture, trends, and human behavior. The key is to choose a subject that you find interesting and that has room for satire.

How do I come up with satirical ideas?

Observe the world around you, paying attention to absurdities, contradictions, and hypocrisy. Satirical ideas often arise from everyday situations and human behavior.

How do I know if my satire essay is successful?

A successful satire essay entertains the reader, makes them think, and effectively critiques the subject. If your essay achieves these goals, it can be considered successful.

The most popular topics for Satire Essay

• Christopher Columbus
• Homelessness
• Illegal Immigration
• Competitive Sports
• Global Warming
• Climate Change
• School Uniform
• Freedom of Speech
• Donald Trump

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Secondary Classrooms Bring Humor to Your Class With These Entertaining Texts

Ellie Viggiani

These nine funny and satirical stories are sure to amuse your students!

Humor is a powerful literary tool that conveys important messages about life. Reading funny or satirical stories is a great way to make your students laugh and think critically at the same time!

Here is a great selection of texts from CommonLit that will amuse your students while also pushing them to engage in deep textual analysis.

“ Dragon, Dragon ” by John Gardner (6th Grade)

In this comical short story, three sons try to slay a dragon. The first two young men are overconfident and do not take their father’s advice seriously. They fail and are gobbled up by the dragon. The third son listens closely to his father and slays the dragon, saving the kingdom. Students can use this story to discuss how the author uses humor to convey an important message about hubris and wisdom.

“ Southpaw ” by Judith Viorst (6th Grade)

This unique short story follows the correspondence between two ex-friends during baseball season. Janet is furious that Richard refused to let her play on the baseball team because she is a girl. Throughout the season, their interactions become increasingly hostile and ridiculous. Eventually, Janet successfully negotiates positions for herself and other girls on the team. This text will make your students chuckle and also prompt them to reflect on gender equality.

“ Seventh Grade ” by Gary Soto (6th Grade)

This hilarious story perfectly captures the feeling of a first crush. Victor is starting seventh grade and is determined to get Teresa to notice him. He attempts to impress Teresa in French class by speaking fake French. Later, though, things get complicated when Teresa asks Victor to tutor her. This sweet text will resonate with middle school students who are navigating the sometimes awkward parts of growing up.

“ The Night the Ghost Got In ” by James Thurber (6th Grade)

In this amusing short story, a boy believes he hears a ghost walking around the house. The boy’s mother also hears footsteps, which she assumes are burglars. The misunderstanding spirals out of control and ends up involving the entire family, neighbors, and the police. This text provides a great opportunity for students to analyze how the author uses humor to convey an important life lesson.

“ Us and Them ” by David Sedaris (7th Grade)

In this essay, David is surprised to learn that his neighbors, the Tomkeys, do not have a TV in their house. Curious, David spies on his “unusual” neighbors, judging their strange ways. Over the course of the story, David’s feelings and actions become more exaggeratedly selfish and judgemental. This text will make your students laugh out loud but also reflect on how judging brings out the worst in people.

“ The Three Century Woman ” by Richard Peck (7th Grade)

In this lighthearted story, Megan’s Great-grandma has lived during three centuries, and a cast of reporters are dying to interview her. When the reporters seem disinterested about Great-grandma’s present life, she tells them wild, made-up stories about scary disasters in the past. Your seventh graders will completely relate when Great-grandma says that being a teenager was actually the scariest time of her life!

“ They’re Made Out of Meat ” by Terry Bisson (8th Grade)

In this wacky short story, two aliens abduct humans from Earth. The aliens are shocked that the humans are entirely made out of meat, which they consider a primitive life form. They decide that despite the humans’ accomplishments, “meat” is not worth their time and they will explore other parts of the universe for more sophisticated life instead. Have students dig into this story to analyze how the author uses humor to convey an important message about prejudice and assumptions.

“ The Nose ” by Nikolai Gogol (9th Grade)

In this short story, Major Kovaloff is known for chasing women and climbing the social ladder. Much to his surprise, he wakes up one morning to find that his nose has disappeared! The absence of his nose causes Kovaloff great distress, but when his nose returns, he goes back to his old ways. This classic short story provides students with a great opportunity to analyze how the author uses satire to critique vanity.

“ A Modest Proposal ” by Jonathan Swift (12th Grade)

In this well-known satire, Jonathan Swift proposes an outrageous solution designed to highlight the government and upper class’s lack of concern for people living in poverty. Swift suggests that impoverished Irish parents should sell their children to be eaten by wealthy English landowners. He goes on to detail the social and economic benefits of this unconventional transaction. This classic text provides students with a great opportunity to analyze how an author’s tone helps convey their message.

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