Satire is a great tool used by many writers and actors since ancient times. The earliest example we know of is a script from the 2nd millennium BC in ancient Egypt (Definition: Satire) and since then it has evolved to become a large part of our society. Satire is used to point out the flaws of human vice in order to bring about change and reform in two ways. There is a very bitter Juvenalian or a sweet and light Horatian. In order to fully understand these forms of satire, the method, purpose and applications will be discussed. The best ways to present satire are either through incongruity, parody, reversals or exaggeration. When a writer presents incongruity, there are elements that are out of place and should not be there. This not only draws attention to this element/idea, but also shows how ridiculous it is. It is this feeling that inspires change and without it, satire could not have succeeded. If parody is used, the target of the satire is imitated in an absurd way. Some examples will do this with the style of the object; others will imitate techniques that will make the audience realize how crazy and outrageous they are. This is again why it works, because it incentivizes the shift in the focus of the satire. Third, if inversions are used, the normal order of things is presented opposite to what it should be. This can be accomplished based on roles, order of events, or even hierarchical order. This specifically draws attention to this topic and shows absurdity, also inspiring change. The final method is exaggeration, where certain aspects are expanded beyond reality in order to show its flaws. This gets the audience to focus on the problems, and therefore what it takes to change them. Like already men...... middle of paper... our society and without them, we would fall into our own stupidity. Works Cited Barry, Dave. “Up in a tree.” MiamiHerald.com. Internet. February 14, 2012.Bearman. “Bearman Cartoon 2012, the end of the world again”. Faq2012, End of the world 2012? Bearman cartoons. Internet. February 14, 2012. Golding, William. Lord of the Flies. New York: The Putnam Publishing Group, 1954. Print. Harris, Robert. “The Purpose and Method of Satire.” Virtual salt. Internet. February 13, 2012.n/d “Definition: Satire”. Webster's Online Dictionary. Internet. February 10, 2012.n/a. “Jonathan Swift – A Modest Proposal.” The Art Bin magazine. Internet. February 13, 2012.n/a. "A new biography reveals that Einstein designed the theory of relativity on paper because he wasn't smart enough to invent Microsoft Word." The Onion - America's best news source. Internet. February 14, 2012. Nordquist, Richard. "Satire." Grammar and composition. Internet. February 10. 2012.