Question

in at least one hundred words, discuss how a humorous tone or satire can be a good way to make a serious point. Use selections from "Life Without Go-Go Boots" and "Uncle John's Farm" to support your explanation.

Answer 1

Humor and satire draw attention to the subject, making readers think about it. The more they think about it, the more they consider it a serious point. Consideration leads to more attention for the author, and therefore the author sells more books. See, everything ties back to commercialism! You know, if you think about it though, it's true. Humor and satire draw our attention because they make us laugh. We humans like to laugh, so of course, we will remember what made us laugh. So remembering it will make us consider it, and considering it makes us see it as a serious point.

Answer 2

Satire is a genre of literature in which the vices, shortcomings and excesses of a person, institution or society at large are held up to ridicule. Satire often has a social or political purpose, as the writing is often meant to shame these entities into improvement.

Satire most often uses humorous language, but this does not mean that it cannot deal with serious topics. In fact, satire is especially useful when we need to address a serious, difficult topic, and offer social criticism, in a nonthreatening way. This is the case with "Uncle John's Farm." Although the author talks about serious topics, such as slavery and racism, he does so in a way that proves to be more accessible and less threatening than it would be if these topics were discussed in a serious tone.