Humour & Satire: Types, Techniques & Effects

What Are Humour and Satire?

Humour makes us laugh, while satire uses humour to criticise society, politics, or human behaviour. Both are powerful tools in writing.

Types of Humour

1. Wordplay: Funny use of words (e.g., puns, double meanings).
   • Example: "I used to be a baker, but I couldn’t make enough dough."
2. Situational Humour: Funny events or surprises.
   • Example: A character slipping on a banana peel.
3. Sarcasm: Saying the opposite of what you mean (often sharp).
   • Example: "Oh great, another power cut!" (when frustrated).
4. Irony: When the opposite of what’s expected happens.
   • Example: A fire station burning down.

Techniques of Satire

Satire uses humour to expose flaws. Common methods:

• Exaggeration: Making something seem worse than it is.
  • Example: "The government’s new policy will turn Nepal into a paradise… if ‘paradise’ means chaos."
• Irony/Sarcasm: Highlighting hypocrisy.
  • Example: "What a wonderful democracy—where votes are bought!"
• Parody: Imitating something seriously to mock it.
  • Example: A fake news headline mimicking real media.
• Understatement: Making a big problem seem small.
  • Example: "Oh, just a tiny earthquake—no big deal!" (after a disaster).

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How to Identify Humour/Satire in Texts

Look for: ✔ Tone: Is it playful or critical? ✔ Language: Puns, sarcasm, exaggeration? ✔ Purpose: Does it entertain or criticise?

Example from a Short Story: "The king declared, ‘No more taxes!’ The people cheered—until they saw the new ‘voluntary donation’ law." → Satire: Mocks unfair policies using irony.

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Comparison Table: Humour vs. Satire

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Why Are They Important?

• Humour → Engages readers, makes writing enjoyable.
• Satire → Highlights social issues, encourages change.

Example from NEB Texts: In "The Tell-Tale Heart" (Edgar Allan Poe), the narrator’s exaggerated guilt creates dark humour and satire on madness.

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Exam Tip

1. Spot the Technique: Underline sarcasm, irony, or exaggeration in passages.
2. Purpose: Ask—Is this making fun of something? If yes, it’s satire.
3. Effect: How does it make you feel? Angry? Amused? That’s the point!
4. Practice: Rewrite a news headline satirically (e.g., "PM’s new plan: More promises, same delays").

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NEB-Style Questions

Q1: How does the writer use humour in this extract? (Give 2 techniques) Q2: Identify the satirical elements in this cartoon. (Describe irony/exaggeration) Q3: Write a short paragraph using satire to criticise traffic rules in Kathmandu.

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Key Takeaway: Humour = laugh; satire = laugh then think. Master these, and you’ll ace NEB’s literary analysis! 😊