Satire

Satire is writing that uses humour, irony, exaggeration or ridicule to expose and criticise the faults of people, institutions or society. A satirist does not attack directly. Instead, the target is made to look foolish, hypocritical or absurd, so the reader laughs and also sees the problem clearly.

Satire can be gentle and playful or sharp and angry. It usually has a serious purpose beneath its comedy: to change opinions or to hold power to account. It relies on the reader recognising the gap between the mockery and the truth.

Recognising satire in the reading paper stops you taking a mocking passage at face value. It helps you judge the writer's real target and tone. In Literature, understanding satire lets you discuss a writer's social criticism with confidence.

When you write persuasively, a controlled satirical touch can expose weak arguments. Keep it clear and purposeful, not merely rude.

A mock-serious article praises a town for its magnificent collection of potholes. It ridicules the council's neglect by pretending to admire the damage.

Identify the target of the satire and the technique used to mock it, such as exaggeration or irony. Explain the serious criticism hiding beneath the humour. Avoid describing the passage as simply funny; the marks come from linking the comedy to its purpose.

In your own writing, keep the target clear so the reader shares your judgement.

You may also find writing formats and annotated model responses useful. Next, visit our skills guides for IGCSE English to see terms like this used in real answers. Our IGCSE English tuition page explains how lessons run. When you are ready, the paid one-hour trial is the first step.