Final answer:
Satire is a literary genre that uses humor and ridicule to expose human or societal faults, for both critique and entertainment. Authors like Juvenal and Hogarth used satire to address hypocrisy and societal issues, while Swift employed irony and humor for critical thinking.
Step-by-step explanation:
Satire as a Literary Genre
Satire is a literary genre that uses humor, exaggeration, and ridicule to expose and criticize human vices, folly, or societal issues. The goal of a satirist is often to bring attention to these problems and to provoke change or at least deeper understanding. The Roman poet Juvenal, for instance, critiqued the hypocrisy of societal figures by highlighting their public moralizing versus their private immoral behavior. Similarly, William Hogarth's prints are examples of visual satire that reflected the vices of eighteenth-century Britain.
The elements of satire can be powerful in questioning authority and common practices. It is a delicate balancing act for the author, as the satire must be crafted skillfully to convey the critique without losing the audience. Moreover, literary figures like Jonathan Swift utilized satire mixed with irony to make readers both laugh and think critically about the issues presented.