During this course, we will read some of the greatest works of satire in English literature and study theoretical approaches to the subject. We will discuss questions of good and bad taste, the character of the satirist, transgressions of decorum, freedom of expression, and evaluate the critical function of satire as a genre--we will also examine cases where making fun of others is no laughing matter. The course follows a historical timeline from Renaissance theories of satire to contemporary examples, focusing especially on the eighteenth century. Students will learn to distinguish between different kinds of satires (Horatian, Juvenalian, Persian), to place the course texts in their historical contexts, and create their own critical responses through research.
Assessment: class participation, presentation, writing assignment, final essay.

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