Horatian satire

Horatian satire, named after the Roman poet Horace, is a literary genre characterized by its gentle, playful mockery rather than harsh condemnation. Unlike the more aggressive Juvenalian satire, Horatian satire uses wit and irony to critique vice and folly with a light touch. Horace himself described his approach as laughing at nonsense without malice, aiming for a tone that was easy, unpretentious, and flexible, shifting between grave and gay.12

The structure of verse satire, including Horatian satire, typically involves examining a vice or folly from various angles (thesis) and then recommending an opposing virtue (antithesis), though the critique of vice is usually more extensive. This form often employs a "frame" where the satirist, or a persona, engages with an adversary or listener to explore the subject matter.3