Question

The literary art of diminishing or derogating a subject by making it ridiculous and evoking toward it attitudes of amusement, contempt, scorn, or indignation. It differs from the comic in that comedy evokes laughter mainly as an end in itself, while _____ derides; that is, it uses laughter as a weapon, and against a butt that exists outside the work itself.

Answer 1

Satire is the genre that employs humor to ridicule and criticize human follies and vices, distinct from the comic genre that mainly aims to evoke laughter. Works like Jonathan Swift's 'Gulliver's Travels' and Oscar Wilde's 'The Importance of Being Earnest' are examples of satire.

Step-by-step explanation:

The literary art being described is satire. Satire is a genre that uses humor, exaggeration, and ridicule to criticize and expose human follies and vices, often in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues. It differs from the comic genre, as its primary aim is not to simply provoke laughter, but to use laughter as a tool for criticism and to evoke attitudes of amusement, contempt, scorn, or indignation towards its target.

An example of a satirical work is Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels, which, while humorous, also serves to satirize the social and political issues of Swift's time. Similarly, Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest provides a comedic critique of Victorian social mores through the format of a Comedy of Manners. These works employ various literary devices such as irony, parody, and exaggerated characters to deliver their criticism.