The Uncommon Reader

Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

“Creative Writing: Satire”

In this activity, students will create a satire related to a governmental system.

Bennett’s work is a satirical representation that questions the necessity of systems, ultimately stating that if people think for themselves, then systems such as the monarchy will fail to exist. In this activity, you will create a satire regarding a political figure and/or political system. Use the following questions to guide your drafting process:

• What is the system you are critiquing?
• Why are you critiquing it?
• What are its flaws?
• How are these flaws problematic?
• What is your humorous suggestion to correct these flaws?
• How does your suggestion transform the leader and/or political system?

After drafting your satire, share your piece with a partner for peer-review feedback and editing. Finally, present your satire to the class and reflect on how the theme of ​​The Duty of the Monarch or a parallel theme from the text is represented in your peers’ creative pieces.

Teaching Suggestion: This activity invites students to creatively approach the format of the satire by incorporating their own opinions on the faults and deficits of government systems. Students may approach this activity in a variety of ways, including a story form, such as Bennett’s novella; a letter or plea, such as Swift’s satire (please see the Paired Text Extension); or even a political cartoon. For guidance on introducing satire in the classroom, please see “Satire on SuperSummary.”

Differentiation Suggestion: For a more analytical approach, perhaps for advanced learners, this activity can be modified to having students select one published satire (e.g., commentary, cartoon, etc.) and using the questions above to analyze its meaning and impact. The Paired Text Extension below is an example of this differentiation.

Paired Text Extension:

Jonathan Swift’s “A Modest Proposal” is another example of a satire that mocks the English government. Read Swift’s satire and compare and contrast the different concerns that Bennett and Swift share regarding The Duty of the Monarch. How are both of their satires examples of The Power of the Written Word in critiquing traditional forms of government?

Teaching Suggestion: This Paired Text Extension can be used as an introduction to the above Activity to more effectively orient students with the satirical framework and writing process.