What literary form is characterized by a mocking imitation of another work?

The literary form that is characterized by a mocking imitation of another work is a parody. Parody typically involves taking an existing work—whether it’s a piece of literature, music, or film—and exaggerating its style, themes, or characters in a humorous way. This form seeks to entertain by highlighting the original work’s inconsistencies, clichés, or absurdities, often providing insights about the original piece or genre in the process.

While satire also uses humor and exaggeration, it focuses more broadly on critiquing social issues, politics, or human behavior rather than directly imitating a specific work. Allegory is a narrative technique that conveys hidden meanings through symbolic figures and actions but does not involve imitation or mockery. Metaphor is a literary device that makes a direct comparison between two unrelated subjects, which is not related to imitation. Thus, parody is the most accurate descriptor for a mocking imitation of another work.