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Satire

            Webster's Dictionary says that satire is "the use of ridicule and sarcasms to attack vices, follies, ect."" Using that definition, I think that all the Pilgrims in the Canterbury Tales have some sort of satire in them to some extent. Some are more subtle and some are more extreme and noticeable than others. The Knight is one of the pilgrims that Chaucer used more subtle satire with in the Prologue. .
             The first way satire is used in the Prologue is with the Knights character. Chaucer wanted to present a realistic knight, but he also wanted to give that knight some very real and obvious flaws on the way that knights were viewed in the 14th century. Chaucer described the realistic knight in the beginning of the Prologue as a "worthy man Truth and honor, freedom and courtesy, full worthy was he in his Lord's war and honored for his worthiness."" This puts the reader at ease and makes the knight look somewhat noble in the beginning. Toward the end of the Prologue of the Knight Chaucer begins to describe the Knight in a less than honorable way writing that " he was not gaily dressed stained and dark with smudges - A knight is someone who is always viewed in bright shining armor and Chaucer describes this knight as being sloppy.
             .
             When reading the Prologue you notice two different voices. In the Knights case the first voice is that of the narrator who is a nave person that is ready to see good no matter how dirty or dishonorable the Knight is. The second voice is that of Chaucer. He is more worldly and sarcastic. It's this voice that puts the satire in Canterbury Tales. .
             Satire is used very well and effectively through out Canterbury Tales. The perfect knight was always clean, courteous, and honorable without fault. Chaucer used satire to describe a knight that is definitely not ideal. He may be courteous but he isn't clean by evidence of the dirtiness of his clothing.
            


Essays Related to Satire

1. Satire -

... standard of living-. An example of a popular satirical piece would be Barry Levinson's motion picture "Wag the dog-, which uses an exceptional combination of sarcasm, humour and cynicism to satire America's politics, the Presidential election & conspiracy and the ignorance of the public when it comes to distinguishing fact from fictions that has been over exaggerated by the media and America ... 's undercover agencies such as the CIA. Other examples of satire can be perceived in Somerville's rare stamp collection, Matt Groening's "The Simpson's- pamphlet on "Springfield's Nuclear Power P...

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2. Essay on the methods and objectives of Swift's satire.

... is a condemnation of certain human traits. Gulliver's experiences with various flawed societies foreshadow his ultimate rejection of human society in the fourth voyage. Swift's style is composed chiefly of satire, allegory, and irony. Satire can be defined as a mocking attack against vices, stupidities, and follies of man with an aim to educate and improve. Gulliver's Travels is the product of a mind ... in Gulliver's Travels as Lilliput's rowing political parties "for above seventy moons past there have two struggling parties in this Empire under the names of Tramecksan and Slamecksan"...

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3. Satire in Candide

... and angry. It points with contempt and moral indignation the corruption and evil of humans and their institutions. Voltaire mostly uses the Horatian type of satire in Candide, because it isn't harsh and cruel, as Juvenalian would be, but more humorous and modest in the way it mocks different ... , but yet the door was silver, and the ceiling was golden. This is an example of irony in the Candide. The next type of a satire device is burlesque. This is a ridiculous exaggeration. There is an inconsistency between subject matter and style. An example of this is when Cacambo says, ... an ex...

  • Word Count: 699
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4. Jonathan Swift - Humor, Satire and Irony

... term, which often emphasizes the weakness more than the weak person, and usually implies moral judgment and corrective purpose Swift's satire of human pettiness and bestiality. Irony, sarcasm and satire indicate mockery of something or someone. This pattern of Swift's use of irony, satire, and humor will be presented in this essay. In "A Modest Proposal" and Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift ... following thoughtlessly on one viewpoint, especially when it has a result on the whole population. In "Gulliver's Travels" by Jonathan Swift, the bureaucracy of England is solely founded on...

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5. Satire in Huckleberry Finn

... used, and that his writings in Huck Finn are the root to all Modern American Literature written today. Throughout the book, specific examples of satire are given by Mark Twain. Although not always obvious, if read carefully and thought thoroughly, they are very valid flaws of human nature ... are many occasions where Mark Twain shows how gullible people can be. Though many instances of satire can be found in Huck Finn, there are two that will be shared in this paper. The first instance of satire that will be described is how humans are so gullible. In Huck Finn, there are many ... jumpe...

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6. Satire In Huck Finn

... Huck, Twain is able to attack the blind faith that civilized society places towards religion. The King and the Duke are perfect people for Twain to express his satire. They are frauds who make their money by ripping people off. Twain goes on to satirize human nature through the town's reaction to the Royal Nonesuch with ... the fact that some people fail to listen and they are fooled because they do fail to listen when someone is trying to help them. Twain also uses satire to attack how fake civilized people can be. Twain expresses his feelings about fakes through the words of Huck Finn....

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7. Satire In Huck Finn

... Huck, Twain is able to attack the blind faith that civilized society places towards religion. The King and the Duke are perfect people for Twain to express his satire. They are frauds who make their money by ripping people off. Twain goes on to satirize human nature through the town's reaction to the Royal Nonesuch with ... the fact that some people fail to listen and they are fooled because they do fail to listen when someone is trying to help them. Twain also uses satire to attack how fake civilized people can be. Twain expresses his feelings about fakes through the words of Huck Finn....

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8. Satire

... sarcasm, irony, and wit, to bring about a change in society, but in the eighteenth century Voltaire, Jonathan Swift and William Hogarth expanded satire to include politics, as well as art. The political environment of the time was one of stress. Any criticism of government would bring punishments. ... are two examples of this new genre. Voltaire was able to attack scientists, and theologians. Another technique used by Voltaire to convey satire is sarcastic humor. In one description of a common eighteenth century medical cure, the patient is very fortunate to only lose an eye ... Candide,...

  • Word Count: 610
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9. Satire

... goes on that people don't think about. In the movie "16 Candles," there is plenty of perfect examples of satire. Three easy, but very common, examples of satire given in the movie are having your true first crush. Secondly passing notes during class about dull things that are going on. Finally looking up the higher grades, the "Greats." ... the higher grades thinking they are gods and goddesses. Lower-classmen are very impatient, so again, they make some very unintelligent choices and make a fool of themselves. To conclude this, satire is everywhere, but for some, satire becomes second...

  • Word Count: 428
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10. Jonathan Swift's satire in Gulliver's Travels

... character of Gulliver is first a reflection of Swift's own views, and later a complete contrast to Swift's ideas, and eventually becoming as much a figure of satire as the strange lands he visits. The first race visited by Gulliver is the Lilliputians. A string of unusual events brings Gulliver to the Island of Lilliput, where ... he speaks of the Big-endians and Small-endians, two groups who differed in opinion on how to break their eggs. This is an obvious satire of the Protestants and Catholics. Swift even goes so far as saying "Many large volumes have been published upon this controve...

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