Menippean satire is one of the different forms of satire in classical literature. It is named after its originator the Greek cynic Menippus of Gadara (3rd century BC). Its impact is indirect in that the satirized object is cast in the form of a narrative in which the characters and what they say is made ridiculous. It is usually written in prose with interpolated passages in verse. The most significant feature of the Menippean satire, however, is its disposition in the form of dialogues or debates. The setting is usually a banquet or a party. The guests and their opinions typify philosophical attitudes which the audience is supposed to decode and transform into a debate on specific intellectual issues. Because of its indirectness and vagueness Menippean satire affords an audience who can identify the various topics and points of view and who share a common knowledge about the matters which are ridiculed.