HUM: Overview

Drama masks, one smiling, one frowning.Humor and Satire

Introduction

Throughout most of your time in AP English Language and Composition, you have focused on elements of rhetoric that occur in a variety of mediums: speeches, letters, and nonfiction texts, to name a few. Now, you will shift your focus to studying elements of rhetoric in comedy and in a particular comedic subgenre: satire. First, you will read selections from three classic works of comedy as you study the relationship between tragedy and comedy. Next, you will look at satire as you examine a text by Jonathan Swift.  You will then continue your study of the genre by looking at three writers who are known in part for their contributions to comedy: Shakespeare, Twain, and Wilde. You will then compare and contrast the comedic elements in an extended essay.

Module Objectives

  • Explain the elements of comedy and satire
  • Evaluate comedic elements in the writings of well-known comedic writers
  • Understand the rhetorical impact of comedy

Module Lessons Preview

Classical Comedy and Drama Lesson: An overview of Aristotle’s definitions of comedy and tragedy

Elements of Satire Lesson: A lesson on the elements of satire and the different types of satirical writing

Jonathan Swift and “A Modest Proposal” Lesson: A lesson on Swift’s satire and a close look at his seminal work, “A Modest Proposal”

William Shakespeare Lesson: A lesson on Shakespeare and his well-known comedy A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Mark Twain Lesson: A lesson on American satirist and author Mark Twain

Oscar Wilde Lesson: A lesson on Wilde’s play The Importance of Being Earnest

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