Satirical Techniques 

 Exaggeration

To enlarge, increase, or represent something beyond normal bounds so that it becomes ridiculous and its faults can be seen. Caricature is the exaggeration of a physical feature or trait. Cartoons, especially political cartoons, provide extensive examples of caricature. Burlesque is the ridiculous exaggeration of language. For instance, when a character who should use formal, intelligent language speaks like a fool or a character who is portrayed as uneducated uses highly sophisticated, intelligent language. 

Incongruity

To present things that are out of place or are absurd in relation to its surroundings. Particular techniques include oxymoron, metaphor, and irony. 

Reversal

To present the opposite of the normal order. Reversal can focus on the the order of events, such as serving dessert before the main dish or having breakfast for dinner.  Additionally, reversal can focus on hierarchical order—for instance, when a young child makes all the decisions for a family or when an administrative assistant dictates what the company president decides and does. 

Parody

To imitate the techniques and/or style of some person, place, or thing in order to ridicule the original. For parody

to be successful, the reader must know the original text that is being ridiculed. 

Examples: Commercial parody, song parody, etc

Irony

Irony is satire that compares what someone actually means with their language against what they actually say or do. Here are the four main types of irony:

• Verbal: Verbal irony is when the meaning of what someone says is the opposite of the intended message. For instance, if it's expected to rain in the forecast, satirically saying that there's a beautiful weekend ahead is an example of verbal irony.

• Dramatic: Dramatic irony is when a situation occurs despite what a character knows. For example, if a character ends a relationship to be with someone else and that other person is in a relationship with another person, that's a situation that features dramatic irony.

• Situational: Situational irony is the difference between what people expect to happen and what actually happens. For example, you might write a story where a man walks to work only to find his office permanently closed.

• Socratic: Socratic irony is when a person pretends to be ignorant for personal gain. This reveals information to the audience through one character tricking another character.

Anachronism

The intention or unintentional chorological misplacing of persons, events, objects, or customs.  More on Anachronisms

Malapropism

The usually intentionally humorous misuse or distortion of a word or phrase. More on Malapropisms

sources:

Indeed

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