Humor or irony used to criticize in literature is called?

• A. Allusion
• B. Metaphor
• C. Satire
• D. Allegory

Answer: (C)

Satire uses humor, irony, or ridicule to criticize people, institutions, or societal norms. It aims to provoke thought and change by exposing flaws in a way that feels witty rather than merely didactic. A classic example is Swift’s A Modest Proposal, which treats a shocking solution to poverty with deadpan irony to highlight the callous rationing of the poor and the policy indifference of the powerful.

Allusion, on the other hand, is just a brief reference to something else; metaphor is a figure of speech that makes a direct comparison; allegory is a narrative in which characters and events symbolize a deeper moral or political meaning. Satire often uses these devices, but its distinctive purpose is to critique through humor or irony.