[1] The Prose of Sir Terry Pratchett | Satirical Tone & Techniques

#writingtips #writingskills #terrypratchett

In this video, I analyze Terry Pratchett's techniques for writing satire (all excerpts taken from his novel, Small Gods). The most notable techniques Pratchett implements in order to establish his satirical tone are as follows: irony, comedic comparisons, suggestive word choice, and lighthearted phrasing. Using these satirical techniques, Terry Pratchett manages to criticize the cruelty of powerful institutions, while also having a laugh.

[freddypowell]

In the second passage, I think you miss a crucial point, which is "people suspected of being less holy". The ultimately subjective nature of the phrase is the fulcrum on which the whole satire hangs.

[florencebawden]

Great video! I think the reason why the 'actually' you mention works for me is because they make the tone more conversational, like you're hearing Vorbis and he's so normal but so terrifying

[apm]

Among other things, you missed the fact that "one hundred and one amazing things" is a reference to a certain genre of books, the title evoking excitement and anticipation. The satire results from juxtaposing a mental image of those sorts of books with a mental image of carefully arranging things to cause lethal harm. The juxtaposition of X with Y invites the reader to imagine the kind of person who feels about Y the way other people might feel about X.

[Cetadrius]

Great video, always a fan of someone that studies Sir Terry

[audrywickham]

Hi Corey! Where can we find your books?

[Zuzana_L]

No Patrick R anymore? 😥 Regardless, great video, always learning a bunch