Questions for the Pamphlet “A Modest Proposal” Jonathan Swift Questions for the Pamphlet “A Modest Proposal”

To contemporary social issues? Question #1 (p581) What details In the first paragraph RELATE To contemporary social issues?

ANSWER: Homelessness Hunger Poverty Unemployment

QUESTION #2 (p581) What is Swift’s PURPOSE For writing this Essay?

ANSWER: To help HALT the Cycle of Poverty, Turning ‘street urchins’ into productive members of society (Swift claims about 85% poverty based on these early statistics)

QUESTION #3 (582) Swift uses two words to describe groups that seem rather derogatory: BREEDERS and STROLLERS What is the purpose in the selection of these words?

ANSWER: To MIMIC the attitude of people who show NO SYMPATHY. Makes essay seem more COLD-HEARTED. Breeders- derogatory towards women Strollers- (beggars)- saying that they are able to ‘get by’ and do this LAZILY.

QUESTION #4 (583) What methods of SATIRE does Swift use in discussing ‘the market value of children’? What method does he propose for dealing with the children?

ANSWER: Methods of SATIRE include: Understatement: putting value on a human life Verbal Irony: Society’s most valuable resource is rendered worthless Situational Irony: Suggestion is more outrageous than ‘modest’ Exaggeration: (for effect) Parody: mimics Scientific Method

How does Swift play on the meaning of the word devoured? QUESTION #5 (583) How does Swift play on the meaning of the word devoured?

ANSWER: Devoured refers to ‘eating’ Since the rich already consumed the parents resources, they are more than entitled to be the ones to ‘eat’ the children.

QUESTION #6 (583) In noting Swift’s allusion to Lent, in which he explained that by eating fish Catholics were intentionally increasing their level of fertility, what does Swift see as another positive outcome of this proposal??

FEWER ROMAN CATHOLICS, since the children would be ‘eaten’ ANSWER: FEWER ROMAN CATHOLICS, since the children would be ‘eaten’

QUESTION #7 (583-4) How to the MATHEMATICAL and STATISTICAL references enhance the IRONY of the essay?

ANSWER: Makes proposal seem: PRECISE SCIENTIFIC GIVES A SHOCKING SOLUTION PROVIDES AUTHENTICITY TO A PROPOSAL THAT IS FACETIOUS

NOTES CONCERNING SWIFT Additions to #7: Swift continues to EMPHASIZE class structure in Great Britain which provided for the ruling class at the expense of the working class Manipulation of tenant farm system used to make subordinates poor intentionally A farmer could work all year and owe more than profited from farm.

SIX BENEFITS OF THE ESSAY Fewer Catholics Poor Tenants having value New Dish/ More money in circulation Less burden on the poor- they get $$$ New food will bring about new customs Marriage- more care and concern due to having more financial resources

QUESTION #8 (586-7) The italicized passage: This reveals some of the BIASES of the 18th Century: noting the cynical references to Laplanders Brazilians Jewish People ARE THERE CONSTRUCTIVE SUGGESTIONS TO THESE PROBLEMS LISTED IN THIS PASSAGE?

ANSWER: IDEAS The ‘expedients’ listed ARE constructive THE PROBLEM IS ALL OF THE IDEAS HAVE BEEN REJECTED!

QUESTION #9 (587 WHAT CLUES TELL THE READER SWIFT’S TRUE FEELINGS???

ANSWER: VISIONARY THOUGHTS He hints that he favors suggestions given previously--- SEEMS TO BELIEVE SOCIETY LACKS UNITY AND DETERMINATION TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF THE POOR

QUESTION #10 (587) WHAT IS THE PURPOSE BEHIND THE FINAL PARAGRAPH OF SWIFT’S ESSAY?

ANSWER: TO ADOPT A POSITION OF AN UNBIASED ADVOCATE TO DISCLAIM ANY SELF-INTEREST REGARDING THE PROPOSAL TO SOUND RATIONAL, WHILE PROPOSING THE IRRATIONAL IDEA TO PROVIDE A HYPOCRISY SUGGESTING HIS FAMILY WOULD NOT BE AFFECTED BY THIS PROPOSAL