satire figure of speech examples sentences

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What is Satire? || Definition & Examples

"what is satire" a guide for english students and teachers.

View the full series: The Oregon State Guide to English Literary Terms

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What is Satire? Transcript (English and Spanish Subtitles Available in Video; Click Here for Spanish Transcript)

By Evan Gottlieb , Oregon State University Professor of British Literature

16 August 2019

Satire is the art of making someone or something look ridiculous, raising laughter in order to embarrass, humble, or discredit its targets.

As a literary genre , satire is one of the oldest: the term was coined by the classical rhetorician Quintillian, who used the root of the Latin word “satura,” which means “full,” and was familiar to many Romans from the phrase lanx satura , which described a medley of fruits – and apparently conveyed the miscellaneous quality of early satire.

Eventually, more specific kinds of satire became associated with the works of three different Roman authors, whose names are still invoked to describe the varieties of satire they established.

Horatian satire tends to be good-natured and light-hearted, looking to raise laughter to encourage moral improvement. A famous example of Horatian satire is the eighteenth-century poet Alexander Pope’s poem The Rape of the Lock , which, despite its serious-sounding name, was an attempt bring back together two real-life feuding families by humorously exaggerating the severity of the cause of their rift.

A contemporary example of Horatian satire, in my opinion, would be many Saturday Night Live skits – especially the ones in which famous actors impersonate famous politicians, thereby raising a laugh at the latter’s expense but usually doing it in a relatively gentle way, in which everyone is on the joke together (including the person being caricatured).

horatian_satire_snl.jpg

Juvenalian satire tends to be more bitter and dark, expressing anger and outrage at the state of the world. A famous example of Juvenalian satire is by another eighteenth-century writer, Jonathan Swift. A Modest Proposal is a prose pamphlet that initially appears to be a serious, well-intentioned attempt to suggest a solution to what was a major problem at the time: the impoverished state of Ireland, due in no small part to absentee English landlords who owned a lot of Irish land but re-invested very little of their profits back into the Irish economy. As the narrator begins to explain his plan to invigorate the Irish economy and make all the poor Irish families “useful” again, however, the reader slowly begins to see that the narrator’s proposal is actually for Irish women to sell their babies to be eaten by their Anglo-Irish landlords. A Modest Proposal is thus an angry denunciation, not just of the rapaciousness of the English landlords and their lack of care for their Irish tenants, but also of the kind of bureaucratic mindset that becomes so enamored with its own problem-solving that it forgets that real humans will be affected by its plans. A modern example of Juvenalian satire would be the parodies of contemporary advertising done by groups like Adbusters, in which they peel away the shiny veneer of advertising to show the heartless greed that lies underneath most corporate capitalism.

juvenalian_satire_adbusters.jpg

Menippean satire is reserved for prose works that still resemble the original connotation of satire as a miscellany, or containing multitudes. A canonical example of the Menippean satire is Laurence Sterne’s novel Tristram Shandy , published in 9 volumes between 1759-1767. While technically the life story of the eponymous narrator, the novel is far less interested in any kind of linear plot than in accumulating incidents, characters, and materials that gently mock and comment on the absurdities of what was then modern life and love. Menippean satires are relatively rare these days, but many so-called postmodern novels, with their encyclopedic range and fondness for esoteric digression, bear more than a passing relation to the form: from Thomas Pynchon’s massive Gravity’s Rainbow to Zadie Smith’s breakout White Teeth.

menippean_satire_tristram_shandy.jpg

Regardless of which type of satire is being deployed, it must take aim at a target that is larger or more powerful than the author. Otherwise, instead of satire we have mere cruelty or bullying. So satire is very context-dependent.

Satire also depends on the audience recognizing it as such: for satire to be effective, it must be received as satire -- there is always the risk that the satire will be read “straight” or superficially. This was the case, for example, with the reception of David Fincher’s 1999 film adaptation of Chuck Palahniuk’s novel Fight Club – which satirizes both consumerism and toxic masculinity. Many viewers of the movie apparently didn’t understand that it was a satire, however, since in its wake a number of real-life “fight clubs” sprang up across the country: something that shouldn’t have happened, had audiences fully understood that the film was making fun of the kind of masculinity that’s so desperate to prove itself that it will happily engage in underground, bare-knuckle fighting.

Satire is a powerful weapon when used effectively and appropriately; but its also a risky one, too – which is probably a big reason why it remains so fascinating for authors and audiences alike.

Want to cite this?

MLA Citation: Gottlieb, Evan. "What is Satire?" Oregon State Guide to English Literary Terms, 16 Aug. 2019, Oregon State University, https://liberalarts.oregonstate.edu/wlf/what-satire . Accessed [insert date].

Further Resources for Teachers

Teaching satire is a good way to introduce students to the conventions of a given literary genre. For a brief explanation of that subject, please see our "What is a Genre?" video.

Mark Twain's essay "Advice to Youth" offers many opportunities to explore how satire works. The text pairs well with Seaton Smith's “‘Jivin’ with Your Teen.”

Writing prompts: How would you classify Twain's essay?  Is it Horatian, Juvenalian, Menippean, or some combination of these forms?

Who are the target(s) of Twain's satire? What are some messages of this satire and how are those messages delivered?

Interested in more video lessons? View the full series:

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18 Satire Examples Spoofing Politics, Film, & Literature

by Ali Luke

on Jun 11, 2024

What do Catch-22, The Colbert Report, and The Onion have in common?

They’re all satire examples.

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 ?

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Literary Devices

Literary devices, terms, and elements, definition of satire, different classifications of satire, common examples of satire, significance of satire in literature, examples of satire in literature.

Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift

Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

Catch-22 by Joseph Heller

Joseph Heller’s World War II novel Catch-22 is a great example of satire. Joseph Heller had flown bomber missions in WWII, just like his main character Captain John Yossarian, and was tortured by the experience. He found the wartime bureaucracy and logic to be incredibly hypocritical. The most famous example of satire in the book comes from the title, the concept of the Catch 22. This is one of those bureaucratic nightmares in which something can only be done when the thing that precludes it from happening happens. Yossarian eventually discovers that the catch doesn’t even exist, but because everything thinks it does it still has the same effect. And, unfortunately, because it doesn’t exist it can’t be repealed. This is a good metaphor for the entire lack of logic in bureaucracy.

Test Your Knowledge of Satire

It is a melancholy object to those who walk through this great town or travel in the country, when they see the streets, the roads, and cabin doors, crowded with beggars of the female sex, followed by three, four, or six children, all in rags and importuning every passenger for an alms.

I shall now therefore humbly propose my own thoughts, which I hope will not be liable to the least objection.

I have been assured by a very knowing American of my acquaintance in London, that a young healthy child well nursed is at a year old a most delicious, nourishing, and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled; and I make no doubt that it will equally serve in a fricassee or a ragout.

3. Which of the satire classifications best fits Jonathan Swift’s essay “A Modest Proposal”? A. Horatian B. Juvenalian C. Menippean [spoiler title=”Answer to Question #3″] Answer: B is the correct answer. The satire in his essay is quite abrasive.[/spoiler]

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What Is Satire? How to Use Satire in Literature, Pop Culture, and Politics—Plus Tips on Using Satire in Writing

Written by MasterClass

Last updated: Aug 25, 2021 • 5 min read

Satire is so prevalent in pop culture that most of us are already very familiar with it, even if we don’t always realize it. Satire can be part of any work of culture, art or entertainment. It is an often-humorous way of poking fun at the powers that be. Sometimes, it is created with the goal to drive social change. Satire has a long history and it is as relevant today as it was in ancient Rome.

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Definition & Examples of Satire

Satire is broadly defined as a literary genre that uses ridicule, irony Opens in new window , wit Opens in new window , sarcasm Opens in new window , etc. to expose folly or vice or to lampoon Opens in new window an individual or group of individuals. Thus a work of satire is crafted to mock and blame culprits with the primary goal of imparting positive change in them.

This rhetorical device has its functionality focused on Epideictic Rhetoric Opens in new window where it attacks certain carnibre of individuals, groups, events, etc. It takes place in the present tense and its practical aspect is best understood in connection to a particular example in order to establish proper context.

In this vein, Ronald Placone and Michael Tumolo develop a definition of the Satire upon the premise of Colbert’s 2010 performance in the public sphere when he appeared in character with Jon Stewart at the public event “ Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear Opens in new window .” The definition follows:

Satire is that device which directs the attention simultaneously in two competing directions. First, it invites its audience to reflect on the absurdity of the status quo. By doing so, satire allows the audience to see how norms of appropriate thought or behavior operate culturally, not naturally. Second, by inviting audiences to see how particular norms are produced, it creates the possibility of establishing a new understanding of normative thought and behavior (38).

• A satire lampooning a constitution amendment

It is important to note that the Satire is most often applied on two specific roles concurrently:

• it brings about the picturesque scene of a ridiculous world created by the satirist meant to excites laugher or merriment; and
• is the introduction of the real world meant to invite reflection on how society might correct ridiculous habits or people simultaneously.

Scholars' Observations

In the quest to examining the potentially persuasive aspect of satire, Edward and Lillian Bloom in their vital argument, state that satire’s main role is to unite readers in so manner as to actively address the object of mockery embedded within a particular satirical piece. In some scenarios the satirist is at first required to play the role of a teacher, in order to educate an audience especially in the aspect of events concerning civic importance.

According to Dustin Griffin’s observation, Satire is “a highly rhetorical and moral art. A work of satire is designed to attack vice or folly. To this end it uses wit or ridicule.

Like polemical rhetoric Opens in new window , satire seeks to persuade an audience that something or someone is reprehensible or ridiculous; unlike pure rhetoric, it engages in exaggeration and some sort of fiction. But satire does not forsake the real world entirely. Its victims come from that world, and it is this fact (together with a darker or sharper tone) that separates satire from pure comedy” (34).

Features of Satire

Satire is witty, ironic, and often exaggerated. It uses extremes to bring its audience to a renewed awareness of its ethical and spiritual danger.

Satire strives to bring ethical reform. It attacks social vices, individuals, and institutions deem culpable of vicious acts.

Satire is constructive art that aims not to destroy but to correct social ills.

It seeks to reinstate social standards.

Satire in generally attacks all categories of culpable people rather than individually.

Satire uses humorous approach to make vices laughable while it still conveys its purpose

In most cases satirist uses innuendo, understatement and ambiguity where it become necessary to mask or protect the interest and/or identity against danger.

Classification of Satire

Satires generally attack and ridicule foibles and vices but are typically categorized into three as outlined below:

1.   Juvenalian Satire

Juvenalian satire uses irony in a somewhat harsh and abrasive tone to ridicule societal structures, power, civilization, public figures, institutions, and other topical vices.

The name Juvenalian was named after the Roman Satirist ‘ Juvenal Opens in new window ’ for his writings directed at attacking public officials and governmental institutions for their shortcoming which regarded as evil. Juvenalian satire addresses perceived social vices through severe bitter outrage, characterized by the use of irony, sarcasm, moral indignation often with little emphasis on humor.

2.   Horatian Satire

Horatian named after the Roman satirist Horace Opens in new window , is one that uses mild humor in a playful manner to denounce social vices, and individual foibles. Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) wrote Satires to gently ridicule the dominant opinions and philosophical beliefs of ancient Rome and Greece. Horatian satire uses wit, exaggeration, and humor to express folly, its goal is to heal the situation with gentle smiles as possible, rather than engaging in personal attacks.

3.   Menippean

This is a form of satire characterized by criticism of mental attitudes rather than societal norms or specific individuals. Menippean satire typically attacks mental attitudes of such categories of people like “pedants,” “bigots,” “cranks,” “parvenus,” “virtuosi,” “enthusiasts,” “rapacious” and incompetent professional men of all kinds, which are treated as diseases of the intellect.

Examples of Literary Works that depicts Satire

• The Adventures of Huckleberry Opens in new window by Mark Twain — Mark Twain Opens in new window uses satire to ridicule slavery act, he actually condemns the manner people treated slaves. Miss Watson Opens in new window whose character depicted her as a good ‘Christian Woman’ has valuable values but ironically she too keeps slaves. In the story, Jim is a slave owned by Miss Watson. Mark Twain uses satire to convey how hypocritical a ‘good Christian woman’ can be by partaking in a immorality of owning slaves as property.
• Animal Farm Opens in new window by George Orwell Opens in new window — As the plot in Animal Farm entails, George Orwell’s satire is directed at outcomes of the Russian Revolution Opens in new window . The Animals represents the Russian people, with the leading figures of communism represented by pigs. According to his beliefs based on experiences garnered from outcome of the Russian Revolution as well as the Spanish Revolution Opens in new window , he believes a classless society could only be achieved through rebellious revolution. This was portrayed in Animal Farm as the animals rebelled against Mr. Jones and took over the farm which they renamed Animal Farm and established themselves as the sole administrators of the farm.
• A Voyage to Maryland by Ebenezer Cooke Opens in new window — A satire, that describes the laws, government, courts, and constitutions of the country, and also the buildings, feasts, frolics, entertainments, and drunken humors of the inhabitants in that part of America.

Similar Figures of Disguise

•  Irony Opens in new window
•  Parody Opens in new window
•  Sarcasm Opens in new window
• Elizabeth Benacka, Rhetoric, Humor, and the Public Sphere: From Socrates to Stephen Colbert. Irony, Parody, & Satire. Opens in new window
• Wikipedia, Satire Opens in new window

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What Is Satire?

Definition of "satire".

Table of Contents

Examples of Satire

More examples of satire, why satire is important, what is satire for.

• If voting changed anything, they would make it illegal.
• Ninety percent of the politicians give the other ten percent a bad reputation.
• When I was a boy, I was told that anybody could become President. Now I'm beginning to believe it.

This button uses irony to attack the idea of censorship.

• "When a thing is funny, search it carefully for a hidden truth." (Playwright George Bernard Shaw)

Using satire is an effective way to undermine your target.

• I am a brilliant swimmer.
• John is a brilliant swimmer.

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2.10: Symbolism and Figurative Language

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• Page ID 100870

• Heather Ringo & Athena Kashyap
• City College of San Francisco via ASCCC Open Educational Resources Initiative

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Image from Pixabay

Symbolism is a practice of using symbols, or anything that represents something larger than itself. Common examples of symbols are a country's flag and a heart symbol, which represent the country, and love. Each has suggestive meanings--for example, the flag brings up thoughts of patriotism, a unified country.

What is the value of using symbols in a literary text? Symbols in literature allow a writer to express a lot in a condensed manner. The meaning of a symbol is connotative or suggestive rather than definitive which allows for multiple interpretations.

Video \(\PageIndex{1}\): Symbols in Literature

Other Common Rhetorical and Literary Devices

How do you tell which words you should examine closely? If you were to spend time doing a close reading of every word in a story, you would never finish. Thus, you want to look for rhetorical devices when you read. Rhetorical devices are words that serve a special function in the text. Authors include them in order to convey a meaning to the reader. Listed below are some of the most common rhetorical devices.

An allegory has a fixed meaning. According to Dictionary.com, an allegory is "a representation of an abstract or spiritual meaning through concrete or material forms; figurative treatment of one subject under the guise of another." Usually didactic (meant to impart a lesson), an allegory is a kind of story in which abstract concepts (such as love, war, or death) became objects, characters, or places in the story. For example, consider Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave,” where light symbolizes knowledge and darkness symbolizes ignorance.

An allusion is an indirect reference, usually to another work, outside of the text, without explicitly naming the reference point. For example, in Hamlet , the scene of Old Hamlet being poisoned in the castle garden by his brother -- who is referred to as a “serpent” -- would likely be a familiar allusion to the Biblical Garden of Eden for highly religious Elizabethan readers (1.5.36).

Imagery is language that makes an appeal to the senses. It can apply to any of the five senses or a combination of multiple senses. Although imagery often comes in phrases or complete sentences, a word can evoke the senses.

Here are some examples.

Every time you find imagery in a text, it brings up a set of connotations. For instance, the scent of freshly-baked cookies might bring up connotations of childhood, comfort, or home. When you see a particularly striking image in a text, think of what it denotes to you. Ask yourself, “Why describe this thing in detail instead of describing something else?” An author often uses imagery to call attention to a particular idea, character, setting, or plot point. Imagery can also be used to create the mood of a text. For instance, a story that includes a great deal of rain imagery might have a very dark, dreary mood.

Irony is a meaning or outcome contrary to what is expected. A fire station burning down would be considered ironic. In Raymond Carver's short story "Cathedral," one of the characters is a blind man. The blind man demonstrates irony when he says, "My dear, I have two TVs. I have a color set and a black-and-white thing, an old relic. It's funny, but if I turn the TV on, and I'm always turning it on, I turn on the color set. It's funny, don't you think?"

There are three different types of irony that can be included in a literary work.

• Verbal irony: when a speaker or narrator says one thing and means the reverse (e.g., sarcasm)
• Dramatic irony: when the reader or audience knows something characters don’t
• Situational irony: when a character holds a position or has an expectation that is reversed or fulfilled in an unexpected way

Metaphor and Simile

Two of the most common rhetorical devices are metaphors and similes. These are both means of comparison. A metaphor compares two things by saying they are the same, while a simile uses the words “like” or “as.”

In the first example, we know that the Great Dane isn't really a vacuum. Both the metaphor and simile, however, imply that the dog consumes a large amount. The main difference is that the metaphor creates a stronger comparison. However, in the last example, only the context will tell you that the metaphor is not talking about a real cheetah. If we were talking about a runner, saying “she is a cheetah” would carry the denotations of speed, grace, agility, litheness, etc. But if we are looking at the simile, we only see that the runner is fast.

Personification and Anthropomorphism

Personification is giving human qualities to animals or objects for the sake of imagery. For example, “the trees’ branches reached towards the sun like arms.” This is similar to anthropomorphism: imbuing a nonhuman entity with human behaviors or attributes. For example, the daffodils in Wordsworth’s “I wandered lonely as a cloud” are described as “dancing,” which is a distinctly human behavior (6).

Repetition is another powerful rhetorical device. When you read, you should always keep your eyes open for repeated words and phrases. This can be tricky, as sometimes the repeated words appear close together and other times they are spread out in a text as a motif. For instance, in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, a green light is mentioned repeatedly; however, these references are spread throughout the text, never appearing more than once or twice per chapter. Therefore, you will need to keep your eyes open for repetition while reading a story. If you see a word or phrase appear more than once, make a note of it--it is likely that the author included the repetition intentionally.

Exercise \(\PageIndex{1}\)

Ralph Waldo Ellison was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Ellison’s father, Lewis, a manual laborer who delivered ice and coal, was an avid reader who named his son after Ralph Waldo Emerson and who hoped that his son would grow up to be a poet. Unfortunately he died of a work-related accident when Ellison was three, which left the two brothers, Robert and Herbert, to be raised by their single mother, Ida. The absence of his father would remain a recurring theme in Ellison's owrk.

Read the first chapter of Invisible Ma n, Battle Royal by Ralph Ellison.

1.What is the significance of the protagonist’s dream? What does his grandfather’s appearance symbolize?

2. Why do you think the protagonist still gives his speech even after he’s been humiliated?

Contributors and Attributions

• Adapted from Writing About Literature: The Basics by CK-12, license CC-BY-NC
• Adapted from Ralph Ellison , authored by Berke, Bleil, & Cofer, originally sourced from the University of North Georgia Press .

Irony Definition

What is irony? Here’s a quick and simple definition:

Irony is a literary device or event in which how things seem to be is in fact very different from how they actually are. If this seems like a loose definition, don't worry—it is. Irony is a broad term that encompasses three different types of irony, each with their own specific definition:  verbal irony ,  dramatic irony , and  situational irony . Most of the time when people use the word irony, they're actually referring to one of these specific types of irony.

Some additional key details about irony:

• The term "irony" comes from the ancient Greek comic character called the "eiron," who pretends ignorance in order to deceive an opponent. 
• Irony overlaps with, but is not identical to, sarcasm and satire . 
• In the last twenty years or so, the term "ironic" has become popular to describe an attitude of detachment or subversive humor, like that of someone who wears a Christmas sweater as a joke. This more recent meaning of ironic is not entirely consistent with the original meaning of irony (a fact which itself might be described as being somewhat ironic). 

Irony Pronunciation

Here's how to pronounce irony: eye -run-ee

Irony in Depth

The term "irony" usually refers to three particular types of irony:

• Verbal irony is a figure of speech in which the literal meaning of what someone says is different from—and often opposite to—what they actually mean. For example, if someone has a painful visit to the dentist and when it's over says, "Well, that was pleasant," they are using verbal irony because the intended meaning of their words (that it  wasn't at all  pleasant) is the opposite of the literal meaning of the words. Verbal irony is the most common form of irony. In fact it is so common that when people mention "irony," they often are actually referring to verbal irony. 
• Dramatic irony  Is a plot device that highlights the difference between a character's understanding of a given situation, and that of the audience. When the audience watching a movie know what's behind that door, but the character in the movie has no idea... that's dramatic irony. 
• Situational irony  refers to an unexpected, paradoxical, or perverse turn of events. It is an example of situational irony when, in the O. Henry story " The Gift of the Magi ," a young wife cuts off her hair in order to buy her husband a chain for his prized watch, but the husband sells his watch to buy his wife a comb for her beautiful hair. 

Although these three kinds of irony may seem very different at first glance, they all share one important quality: a tension between how things appear and how they really are. For a more in-depth look at each of these devices, please visit their individual pages.

Also, it's worth knowing that sometimes instances of irony don't quite fit into any of these categories, and instead align with the more general definition of irony as something that seems to be one way, but is in fact another way. Put more broadly: sometimes irony is verbal irony, sometimes it's dramatic irony, sometimes it's situational irony, and sometimes it's just irony. 

Irony, Sarcasm, and Satire

Besides the three main types of irony described above, two other literary devices—sarcasm and satire—share a lot in common with irony:

• Sarcasm is a bitter, cutting, or mocking taunt used to denigrate a particular person, place, or thing. It can sometimes take the form of verbal irony. For instance, if you were to say to someone who had just cut you in line, "What a polite, civilized person you are!" that would be sarcasm in the form of irony, since your meaning is the opposite of the literal meaning of your words. Sarcasm very often involves irony. However, it doesn't always have to use irony. For instance, when Groucho Marx says "i never forget a face, but in your case I'll be glad to make an exception," he is being sarcastic, but his words, however witty they are, mean exactly what they say. 
• Satire is a form of social or political critique. Like sarcasm, it often makes use of irony, but it isn't always ironic.

You can get more details on both sarcasm and satire at their specific pages.

Irony Examples

All three forms of irony are used very frequently in literature, theater, and film. In addition, sometimes the irony found in any of these mediums is broader and doesn't fit into any of the specific categories, and is instead just general irony. 

Irony in "The Sell Out"

" The Sell Out " by Simon Rich is a short story recently published in the New Yorker that is full of irony. The story is narrated by a Polish Jew named Herschel, who lives in Brooklyn in the early twentieth century. Herschel accidentally preserves himself in brine for one hundred years, and when he is finally discovered, still alive, in 2017, he is introduced to his great-great-grandson, a young man who lives in present-day Brooklyn. On Herschel's first day, the great-great-grandson Simon tells Herschel about computers. Herschel describes the scene (note that Hershel's English isn't all that great):

It takes him long time, but eventually Simon is able to explain. A computer is a magical box that provides endless pleasure for free. Simon is used to constant access to this box—a never-ending flow of pleasures. When the box stops working—or even just briefly slows down—he becomes so enraged that he curses our God, the one who gave us life and brought us forth from Egypt.

This description is a great example of irony in the most general sense. The humor stems from the disparity between what seems to be true to Herschel (that computers are magic pleasure boxes) and what is actually true (that computers are, well, computers, and that people are kind of stupidly addicted to them). The use of irony is effective here because Hershel's description, as outlandish as it is, actually points to something that is  true about the way people use computers. Therefore, the disparity between "what is" and "what appears to be" to Herschel isn't merely a comical error; rather, it's ironic because it actually points to a greater truth about its subject.

Verbal Irony in Don Quixote

One famously ironic work is Miguel de Cervantes's Don Quixote .   At one point, the book's narrator states: 

… historians should and must be precise, truthful and unprejudiced, without allowing self-interest or fear, hostility or affection, to turn them away from the path of truth, whose mother is history.

We can identify the above quotation as an example of verbal irony if we consider that the book's hero, Don Quixote, is fundamentally incapable of distinguishing truth from fiction, and any historian of his life would have to follow a double track of reality and fantasy which continuously overlaps, tangles, and flips. One of the most basic premises of the book is that truth is more difficult to identify than it may seem. Therefore, when the narrator vows to follow the single path of truth, he is being ironic; in reality, he believes this to be impossible. 

Dramatic Irony in Othello

The device of dramatic irony is especially well-suited to the theater, which displays constantly shifting sets, scenes, and characters to a stationary audience that, therefore, often has a more complete or "omniscient" perspective compared to any of the characters. One excellent example of dramatic irony can be found in Shakespeare's  Othello . 

Through the play, the audience watches as Iago plots against his commander Othello, and seeks to make Othello believe that his wife Desdemona has been unfaithful to him. The audience watches as Iago plots to himself and with others. Sometimes Iago even directly reveals his plans to the audience. Meanwhile, Othello continues to trust Iago, and the audience watches as the the plan they know that Iago is pursuing slowly plays out just as he intended, and Othello eventually murders the entirely innocent Desdemona. The way that the play makes the audience aware of Iago's plot, even as Othello is not, means that the play is full of dramatic irony almost for its entire length. 

Situational Irony in The Producers

In this classic film, two friends come up with a complicated money-making scheme in which they put on a play that they think is absolutely certain to fail. Their plan backfires when the play, entitled "Springtime for Hitler," is so shockingly bad that people think it's a comedy and come to see it in droves. This is an example of situational irony because the outcome is the exact opposite of what the play's producers expected.

Why Do Writers Use Irony?

Irony is a tool that can be used for many different purposes. Though sarcasm and satire are two ways of using irony that are primarily negative and critical, ironic statements can also underscore the fragility, complexity, and beauty of human experience.

• Situational irony often demonstrates how human beings are always at the mercy of an unpredictable universe—and that life can always take an unexpected turn.
• Dramatic irony emphasizes that human knowledge is always partial and often incorrect, while giving the reader or viewer the satisfaction of a more complete understanding than that of the characters.
• In dialogue, verbal irony can display one character's sparkling wit, and another character's thickheadedness. Verbal irony can also create a connection between people who  get  the irony, excluding those who don't.

Ultimately, irony is used to create meaning—whether it's humorous or profound—out of the gap between the way things appear and how they actually are.

Other Helpful Irony Resources

• The Wikipedia page on irony : A helpful overview.
• The dictionary definition of irony : A basic definition, with a bit on the etymology.
• The comedian George Carlin explaining the difference  between situational irony and mere coincidence.
• A site with a helpful index of examples of different types of irony in television, film, video games, and other media.

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Definition and Examples of Irony (Figure of Speech)

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• An Introduction to Punctuation
• Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia
• M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester
• B.A., English, State University of New York

Irony is the use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning. Similarly, irony may be a statement or situation where the meaning is contradicted by the appearance or presentation of the idea.

Adjective: ironic or ironical . Also known as  eironeia , illusio , and the dry mock .

The Three Kinds of Irony

Three kinds of irony are commonly recognized:

• Verbal irony is a trope in which the intended meaning of a statement differs from the meaning that the words appear to express.
• Situational irony involves an incongruity between what is expected or intended and what actually occurs.
• Dramatic irony is an effect produced by a narrative in which the audience knows more about the present or future circumstances than a character in the story.

In light of these different varieties of irony, Jonathan Tittler has concluded that irony

"has meant and means so many different things to different people that rarely is there a meeting of minds as to its particular sense on a given occasion."

(Quoted by Frank Stringfellow in The Meaning of Irony , 1994.)

From the Greek, "feigned ignorance"

Pronunciation:

Irony in academics.

Academicians and others have explained irony in its various forms, including how to use it and how others have used it, as these quotes show.

D.C. Muecke

"Irony may be used as a rhetorical device to enforce one's meaning. It may be used . . . as a satiric device to attack a point of view or to expose folly, hypocrisy, or vanity. It may be used as a heuristic device to lead one's readers to see that things are not so simple or certain as they seem, or perhaps not so complex or doubtful as they seem. It is probable that most irony is rhetorical, satirical, or heuristic. ... "In the first place irony is a double-layered or two-story phenomenon. ... In the second place, there is always some kind of opposition that may take the form of contradiction, incongruity, or incompatibility. ... In the third place, there is in irony an element of 'innocence.'" — The Compass of Irony . Methuen, 1969

R. Kent Rasmussen

"David Wilson, the title character of Pudd'nhead Wilson , is a master of irony. In fact, his use of irony permanently marks him. When he first arrives in Dawson's Landing in 1830, he makes an ironic remark that the villagers cannot understand. Distracted by the annoying yelping of an unseen dog, he says, 'I wished I owned half of that dog.' When asked why, he replies, 'Because I would kill my half.' He does not really want to own half the dog, and he probably does not really want to kill it; he merely wants to silence it and knows killing half the dog would kill the whole animal and achieve the desired effect. His remark is a simple example of irony, and the failure of the villagers to understand it causes them immediately to brand Wilson a fool and nickname him 'pudd'nhead.' The very title of the novel is, therefore, based on irony, and that irony is compounded by the fact that Wilson is anything but a fool." — Bloom's How to Write About Mark Twain . Infobase, 2008

Bryan Garner

"A classic example of irony is Mark Antony's speech in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar . Although Antony declares, 'I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him,' and declares that the assassins are 'honorable men,' he means just the opposite." — Garner's Modern American Usage . Oxford University Press, 2009

Barry Brummett

"It is sometimes said that we live in an age of irony. Irony in this sense may be found, for example, all throughout The Daily Show with Jon Stewart . Suppose you hear a political candidate give a terribly long speech, one that rambles on and on without end. Afterward, you might turn to a friend sitting next to you, roll your eyes, and say, 'Well, that was short and to the point, wasn't it?' You are being ironic. You are counting on your friend to turn the literal meaning of your expression, to read it as exactly the opposite of what your words actually mean. ... "When irony works, it helps to cement social bonds and mutual understanding because the speaker and hearer of irony both know to turn the utterance, and they know that the other one knows they will turn the utterance. ... "Irony is a kind of winking at each other, as we all understand the game of meaning reversal that is being played." — Techniques of Close Reading . Sage, 2010

"Irony has always been a primary tool the under-powered use to tear at the over-powered in our culture. But now irony has become the bait that media corporations use to appeal to educated consumers. ... It's almost an ultimate irony that those who say they don't like TV will sit and watch TV as long as the hosts of their favorite shows act like they don't like TV, either. Somewhere in this swirl of droll poses and pseudo-insights, irony itself becomes a kind of mass therapy for a politically confused culture. It offers a comfortable space where complicity doesn't feel like complicity. It makes you feel like you are counter-cultural while never requiring you to leave the mainstream culture it has so much fun teasing. We are happy enough with this therapy that we feel no need to enact social change." — Review of The Daily Show , 2001

Jon Winokur

"Alanis Morissette's 'Ironic,' in which situations purporting to be ironic are merely sad, random, or annoying (a traffic jam when you're late, a no-smoking sign on your cigarette break) perpetuates widespread misuse of the word and outrages irony prescriptivists . It is, of course, ironic that 'Ironic' is an unironic song about irony. Bonus irony: 'Ironic' is widely cited as an example of how Americans don't get irony, despite the fact that Alanis Morissette is Canadian." — The Big Book of Irony . St. Martin's, 2007

R. Jay Magill, Jr.

"Direct expression, with no tricks, gimmickry, or irony, has come to be interpreted ironically because the default interpretive apparatus says, 'He can't really mean THAT!' When a culture becomes ironic about itself en masse , simple statements of brutal fact, simple judgments of hate or dislike become humorous because they unveil the absurdity, 'friendliness,' and caution of normal public expression. It's funny because it's true. Honestly. We're all upside down now." — Chic Ironic Bitterness . University of Michigan Press, 2007

Irony in Popular Cultue

Irony also has a large presence in popular culture—books, movies, and television shows. These quotes show the concept in use in a variety of formats.

John Hall Wheelock

"A planet doesn't explode of itself," said drily The Martian astronomer, gazing off into the air— "That they were able to do it is proof that highly Intelligent beings must have been living there." — "Earth"

Raymond Huntley and Eliot Makeham

Kampenfeldt: This is a grave matter, a very grave matter. It has just been reported to me that you've been expressing sentiments hostile to the Fatherland. Schwab: What, me sir? Kampenfeldt: I warn you, Schwab, such treasonable conduct will lead you to a concentration camp. Schwab: But sir, what did I say? Kampenfeldt: You were distinctly heard to remark, "This is a fine country to live in." Schwab: Oh, no, sir. There's some mistake. No, what I said was, "This is a fine country to live in." Kampenfeldt: Huh? You sure? Schwab: Yes sir. Kampenfeldt: I see. Well, in future don't make remarks that can be taken two ways. — Night Train to Munich , 1940

Peter Sellers

"Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room." — As President Merkin Muffley in Dr. Strangelove, 1964

William Zinsser

"It is a fitting irony that under Richard Nixon, launder became a dirty word."

Alan Bennett

"We're conceived in irony. We float in it from the womb. It's the amniotic fluid. It's the silver sea. It's the waters at their priest-like task, washing away guilt and purpose and responsibility. Joking but not joking. Caring but not caring. Serious but not serious." — Hilary in The Old Country , 1977

Thomas Carlyle

"An ironic man, with his sly stillness, and ambuscading ways, more especially an ironic young man, from whom it is least expected, may be viewed as a pest to society." Sartor Resartus: The Life and Opinions of Herr Teufelsdrockh , 1833-34

"Glee"

Rachel Berry: Mr. Schuester, do you have any idea how ridiculous it is to give the lead solo in "Sit Down, You're Rocking the Boat" to a boy in a wheelchair? Artie Abrams: I think Mr. Schue is using irony to enhance the performance. Rachel Berry: There's nothing ironic about show choir! — Pilot episode, 2009

"Seinfeld"

​ Woman: I started riding these trains in the '40s. Those days a man would give up his seat for a woman. Now we're liberated and we have to stand. Elaine: It's ironic. Woman: What's ironic? Elaine: This, that we've come all this way, we have made all this progress, but you know we've lost the little things, the niceties. Woman: No, I mean what does ironic mean? Elaine: Oh.​ — "The Subway," Jan. 8 1992

Sideshow Bob

"I'm aware of the irony of appearing on TV in order to decry it." — The Simpsons

Calvin Trillin

"Math was my worst subject because I could never persuade the teacher that my answers were meant ironically."

The Men Who Stare at Goats,

Lyn Cassady: It's okay, you can "attack" me. Bob Wilton: What's with the quotation fingers? It's like saying I'm only capable of ironic attacking or something.​ — 2009

Irony Deficiency

Irony deficiency  is an informal term for the inability to recognize, comprehend, and/or utilize irony—that is, a tendency to interpret  figurative language  in a literal way.

Jonah Goldberg

"Mobsters are reputedly huge fans of  The Godfather . They don’t see it as a tale of individual moral corruption. They see it as a nostalgia trip to better days for the mob." — "The Irony of Irony."  National Review , April 28, 1999

"Irony deficiency is directly proportional to the strength of the political commitment or religious fervor. True believers of all persuasions are irony deficient. ... "Brutal dictators are irony deficient—take Hitler, Stalin, Kim Jong-il, and Saddam Hussein, a world-class vulgarian whose art collection consisted of kitsch paintings displayed unironically." — The Big Book of Irony . Macmillan, 2007

Swami Beyondananda

"Here is something ironic: We live at a time when our diets are richer in irony than ever before in human history, yet millions of us suffer from that silent crippler, irony deficiency ... not so much a deficiency in irony itself, but an inability to utilize the abundance of irony all around us." — Duck Soup for the Soul . Hysteria, 1999

Roy Blount, Jr.

"Will people who detect a lack of irony in other cultures never stop to consider that this may be a sign of their own irony deficiency? Maybe it's defensible when the apes detect a lack of irony in Charlton Heston in  Planet of the Apes , but not when, say, Brits detect it in, say, Americans as a race . ... The point of irony, after all, is to say things behind people's backs to their faces. If you look around the poker table and can't tell who the pigeon is, it's you." — "How to Talk Southern."  The New York Times , Nov. 21, 2004

• Figure of Speech: Definition and Examples
• The Top 20 Figures of Speech
• What Is Rhetorical Irony?
• 100 Awfully Good Examples of Oxymorons
• Definition and Examples of Situational Irony
• What Is the Figure of Speech Antiphrasis?
• Verbal Irony - Definition and Examples
• Figurative Meaning
• Brief Introductions to Common Figures of Speech
• Understanding Subtext
• Paralepsis (Rhetoric)
• Definition and Examples of Sarcasm
• Figure of Thought in Rhetoric
• Definition and Examples of Dramatic Irony
• Definition and Examples of Litotes in English Grammar
• The Four Master Tropes in Rhetoric

• Literary Terms
• Definition & Examples
• When & How to Use Sarcasm

I. What is Sarcasm?

Sarcasm is a form of verbal irony that mocks, ridicules, or expresses contempt. It’s really more a tone of voice than a rhetorical device. You’re saying the opposite of what you mean (verbal irony) and doing it in a particularly hostile tone.

Sarcasm comes from the Greek words “sark” meaning “flesh,” and “asmos” meaning “to tear or rip.” So it literally means “ripping flesh” – a pretty bloody image for a type of speech that we use all the time!

II. Examples of Sarcasm

Oh yes, you’ve been sooooo helpful. Thanks sooooo much for all your heeeelp .

Imagine someone saying this to a customer service agent, drawing out the syllables and maybe rolling their eyes. You’d know pretty quickly that they meant the opposite of what they were saying. That verbal irony plus the mocking or derisive tone makes it sarcasm.

I made the genius choice of selling my car right before I decided to move

Sarcasm doesn’t always have to be vicious or mean. It can also be humorous, playful, or (as in this example) self-deprecating. Again, verbal irony plus the tone of voice makes this sarcasm.

III. The Importance of Sarcasm

Because it’s a tone rather than a rhetorical fact, sarcasm by definition can only be used in dialogue. It would describe a way that one character talks to another. This can have all kinds of effects, but generally it shows that the speaker is being impatient or contemptuous. It’s also a sign of disrespect toward the person being addressed, so the use of sarcasm can provide clues as to the relationship between the two characters .

The broader category of verbal irony has other uses, but sarcasm in particular is purely a quality of a character’s speech, and therefore its function is to reveal aspects of that character’s personality.

Sarcasm can say many different things about a character, depending on the way they use it, but most often sarcastic characters are cynical, slightly bitter, solitary, and perhaps arrogant. Think, for example, of Dr. Cox from Scrubs – he often uses verbal irony to mock other characters in the show, especially the protagonist, J.D. However, like many sarcastic characters, Dr. Cox is more often brutally honest than sarcastic. That is, he doesn’t employ verbal irony at all – he says exactly what he means, which is the opposite of irony. And, as we’ve already seen, if a line is not verbally ironic, then by definition it cannot be sarcastic. But it can still be sardonic and cynical , which are probably the two most common character traits expressed through the use of sarcastic dialogue.

IV. Examples of Sarcasm in Literature

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Was there a lack of graves in Egypt, that you took us away to die in the wilderness? (Exodus 14:11)

In one of the earliest examples of sarcasm, one of the Israelites walks up to Moses and poses this sarcastic question. If the Israelites were just going to die in the desert, then what was the point of leaving Egypt in the first place? We can easily imagine the speaker’s tone: irritated, biting, and scornful. And of course he doesn’t actually think that there’s a “lack of graves in Egypt.”

The noble Brutus hath told you Caesar was ambitious: if it were so, it was a grievous fault, and grievously hath Caesar answer’d it. (Shakespeare, Julius Caesar )

Shakespeare imagines Mark Antony delivering a thoroughly sarcastic speech at the funeral of Julius Caesar. He frequently refers to Brutus, Caesar’s murderer, as “noble” and “honorable,” but the content of the speech clearly shows that Mark Antony believes the opposite about Brutus.

V. Examples of Metaphor in Pop Culture

Oh, just get a job? Yeah, why don’t I just strap on my job helmet and squeeze down into a job cannon, and fire off into jobland where jobs grow on jobbies!  (Charlie, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia )

When someone tells Charlie that he needs to get a job, he launches into a bitterly sarcastic tirade about the suggestion. He’s trying to emphasize how hard it is to get a job, and he uses this biting tone to mock his friends’ blasé suggestion that all he needs to do is go out and find one.

Truly, you have a dizzying intellect. (Wesley, The Princess Bride )

Wesley famously uses this line to dismiss the intelligence of Vizzini the Sicilian. But Vizzini is so self-involved that he doesn’t even catch the sarcasm, and thinks that Wesley is genuinely complementing him. This reinforces the point of Wesley’s insult.

I take risks, sometimes patients die. But not taking risks causes more patients to die, so I guess my biggest problem is I’ve been cursed with the ability to do the math. (Dr. House, House )

Dr. House is another character who is frequently sardonic, and ocassionally sarcastic. (Like Dr. Cox, his sardonicness usually takes the form of brutal honesty rather than sarcasm.) However, in this line he adds some verbal irony by suggestion that his ability to do the math is a “problem” and a “curse,” which is an ironic reversal of what he really means. Like many of House’s lines, this one uses sarcasm

VI. Related Terms

Verbal irony is one of the components of sarcasm. It just means saying the opposite of what one means. Verbal irony is always a feature of sarcasm.

There is another type of irony, situational irony , which refers to situations that violate our expectations in a humorous or striking way. This is quite different from sarcasm, and only tangentially related to verbal irony.

They sound similar, but don’t confuse the words “sarcastic” and “sardonic.”

• Sarcasm is verbal irony expressed in a biting tone
• Sardonic means “cynical” or “mocking”

So sarcasm is often sardonic – when a character uses sarcasm to mock someone else, it’s a sardonic comment. However, the key difference is that a sardonic comment is not necessarily ironic . It may say exactly what the speaker means, just in a mocking tone. For example:

I did not attend the funeral, but I sent a letter saying I approved of it. (Mark Twain)

This comment by Twain is certainly mocking – it expresses his displasure with the deceased in a pretty biting fashion. But it isn’t ironic, and therefore it’s not sarcasm (it’s much closer to brutal honesty than it is to sarcasm).

Though roughly synonymous with “sardonic,” cynicism is philosophy of life whereas sardonicness is a tone. Cynicism originally meant “appreciating the simple things in life,” but somewhere along the way that definition was swallowed up by a new one. These days, cynicism usually refers to a self-centered and suspicious view of life. Cynical people are deeply suspicious of sentimentality and “positive thinking,”

They tend to be pessimists, narcissists, and loners.

But, despite all these negative connotations of cynical people, they often make for extremely popular television characters. This is probably due to the fact that cynical, sardonic, and sarcastic lines are so good at producing a laugh.

Sarcasm is often used to ridicule or mock people, either jokingly or in earnest. In these situations, the sarcasm is also a form of satire . Satire is the use of verbal irony, humor, or charicature to make fun of a person or institution, epseically in a political context. But satire isn’t necessarily a form of sarcasm – there are plenty of ways to make political jokes, for example, without using verbal irony.

List of Terms

• Alliteration
• Amplification
• Anachronism
• Anthropomorphism
• Antonomasia
• APA Citation
• Aposiopesis
• Autobiography
• Bildungsroman
• Characterization
• Circumlocution
• Cliffhanger
• Comic Relief
• Connotation
• Deus ex machina
• Deuteragonist
• Doppelganger
• Double Entendre
• Dramatic irony
• Equivocation
• Extended Metaphor
• Figures of Speech
• Flash-forward
• Foreshadowing
• Intertextuality
• Juxtaposition
• Literary Device
• Malapropism
• Onomatopoeia
• Parallelism
• Pathetic Fallacy
• Personification
• Point of View
• Polysyndeton
• Protagonist
• Red Herring
• Rhetorical Device
• Rhetorical Question
• Science Fiction
• Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
• Synesthesia
• Turning Point
• Understatement
• Urban Legend
• Verisimilitude
• Essay Guide
• Cite This Website

Definition of Hyperbole

Born on a mountain top in Tennessee Greenest state in the land of the free Raised in the woods so he knew ev’ry tree Kilt him a be ‘are [bear] when he was only three Davy, Davy Crockett, king of the wild frontier

Common Examples of Hyperbole in Everyday Speech

Examples of hyperbole in advertising, famous examples of hyperbole in movie lines.

Hyperbole is effective in creating movie lines that are humorous and/or dramatic, which makes them memorable as well for the audience. Here are some famous examples of hyperbole in well-known movie lines:

Difference Between Hyperbole and Overstatement

Difference between metaphor and hyperbole, using hyperbole in satire, use of hyperbole in sentences, examples of hyperbole in literature.

Hyperbole is effective as a literary device in many ways. By exaggerating something in an extreme way, whether it is a character’s traits, writer’s tone , theme , or idea, hyperbole can capture a reader’s attention. In addition, it can cause the reader to question a narrator ’s reliability, reflect on the writer’s true intention, or provide a level of absurd humor for entertainment.

Example 1:  A Modest Proposal  (Jonathan Swift)

I have been assured by a very knowing American of my acquaintance in London , that a young healthy child well nursed, is, at a year old, a most delicious nourishing and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled; and I make no doubt that it will equally serve in a fricasie, or a ragoust.

Satirists often rely on hyperbole to emphasize a point and focus a reader’s attention on a socio-political or economic problem. Unfortunately, there were people in Swift’s time that made a literal interpretation of his modest proposal. This caused a backlash among certain members of the aristocracy due to their misunderstanding of his hyperbole. However, for a modern audience, rather than discounting Swift’s essay as something ridiculous, his hyperbolic proposal achieves its intended effect by causing the reader to reflect on the underlying problems that would result in such a dramatic literary essay–both in Swift’s time and today.

Example 2:  Sonnet 147  (William Shakespeare)

My love is as a fever, longing still For that which longer nurseth the disease, Feeding on that which doth preserve the ill, Th’ uncertain sickly appetite to please. My reason, the physician to my love, Angry that his prescriptions are not kept, Hath left me, and I desperate now approve Desire is death, which physic did except. Past cure I am , now reason is past care, And, frantic-mad with evermore unrest, My thoughts and my discourse as madmen’s are, At random from the truth vainly expressed. For I have sworn thee fair, and thought thee bright, Who art as black as hell, as dark as night .

Example 3:  The Foreigner (Larry Shue)

ELLARD. That’s my favorite name. If I ever catch me that chipmunk, that’s what he’s gonna be— Buddy the chipmunk. CATHERINE. Ellard, you couldn’t catch a chipmunk if all its legs were broken and it was glued to the palm of your hand.

Synonyms of Hyperbole

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