For millennia satire has used wit and humor for the purpose of social criticism. From Horace and Juvenal to South Park and Saturday Night Live, satire often reveals the vices, follies, and abuses of society toward necessary improvement. Satire confronts public discourse and asks citizens to question the often-unchallenged institutions of government, education, and religion. This course traces the role of satire in literature from the first through the 21st century, connecting the past with the immediate present, and demonstrating the role satire has played and continues to play in exposing individuals to the fallacies of their respective generations. Prerequisite: ENGL110XM or ENGL110M. (Fulfills English or Humanities requirement and pre-1800 requirement for English majors).