The purpose of A Modest Proposal is to satirize… English policy in Ireland Tenants who don’t pay rent Irish bankers Overpopulation concerns In the beginning, what image does the narrator describe that represents the problem(s) he plans to resolve? A horse with 3 legs that is killed and its meat sold in market. A poor man with a thick beard begging for food, then dying on the street. A poor woman begging with a string of her children behind her. A thin, malnourished child eating crumbs from the dumpster behind a diner. The narrator claims to have no personal motive behind his proposal because… He is English and could not benefit from his proposal He lives in the country and doesn’t own a farm His wife is past childbearing age He is to a landlord and does not wish to be rich. What is the irony in Swift being “studious of brevity”? He is anything but short He never went to college He is doubtful his plan will work He feels his plan is unrealistic Which of the following quotes is an example of irony? “…as I have already observed, it will lessen the number of papists” “But this and many others I omit, being studious of brevity” “I have already computed the charge of nursing a beggar’s child” “Besides others who might have infant flesh at weddings” What two aspects of Swift’s writing clearly indicate Swift’s purpose? His attention to detail and honest His irony and understatement His imagery and statistics His grammar and organization What two pieces of evidence strongly support Swift’s attitude toward the treatment of Ireland’s poor people? His assurance of religious freedom and statistical prowess His plan for “baby-skin” clothing and his wife past childbearing age His nationality and his excitement for new income for the Irish His list of bad solutions and quote about devouring parents Which of the following is NOT an advantage anticipated by the narrator of A Modest Proposal? Proposal will decrease the number of Catholics. Proposal will decrease the number of marriages. Proposal will decrease the number of beggars. Proposal will decrease the number of poor people. In the beginning of “A Modest Proposal,” what are the mother of Ireland doing instead of working? Ignoring their infant children Engaging in prostitution Stealing Begging for their infant children What large scale societal problem does Swift plan to resolve? Overpopulation of Ireland Mistreatment of Irish poor Spreading religion to Ireland Uplifting the English poor What is Swift’s claim? The English need to be treated better or they will start to eat children. The English should sell their children into Irish slavery to help their economy. The Irish need to handle their money better or they will have to sell children. The Irish should sell their babies to English butchers as a delicacy. What does Swift mean when he says, “The English landlords have already devoured most of the Irish parents? Cannibalism has been part of English culture. Landlords will eat tenants who cannot pay rent. The landlords have financially devoured the Irish tenants. Irish parent will not sell their children. Who does Swift feel bad for and why does he feel bad for them? Irish. Because they are pitiful and complacent. Irish. Because they are poor and hopeless English. Because they are pitiful and complacent English. Because they are poor and hopeless Does Swift expect his readers to seriously consider his proposal? Why? No. He is trying to raise awareness about an issue. No. He is trying to help the Irish win the war with England. Yes. He is trying to create a new part of the meat industry. Yes. He is trying to help the English win the war with Ireland. Which of the following statements best describe the central ideas of the text? Poor families are just going to keep growing, so it’s best to leave them to starve themselves out. A person is not measured by how productive, costly, or useful they can be to larger society. In order to control population and poverty, the children of the poor should be sold as food. The poor should get out of the streets and make more of an effort to find employment, rather than beg for their food. To what is the author referring when using words like “breeders” and “commodity” in the text? Poor child-bearing women and their children Middle-class women and their property Various forms of livestock Catholic women and their babies What effect does the author’s word choice have on the tone of the text? (RI.14) It makes the proposal sound even more ridiculous and over-the-top. It dehumanizes these people, reducing them to their worth or abilities (i.e. giving birth), conveying a tone of indifference. It is comparable to the way people talk about livestock and trade, adding to the silly tone of the text. It divides people based on their religious practices, contributing to the incited and biased tone of the text. How does Swift’s use of hyperbole, or exaggeration, contribute to this satirical text? (RI.5) Swift uses exaggeration when describing the benefits of cannibalism, satirizing the upper class for overtaxing the poor. By suggesting taboos such as infanticide (killing babies) and cannibalism to solve social issues, Swift employs exaggeration to satirize the government and upper class’s lack of concern for poverty. Swift uses exaggeration when suggesting killing babies as a way to solve population increase, satirizing those who encourage it. By suggesting taboos such as killing babies and cannibalism to solve social issues, Swift employs exaggeration to satirize the extent of poverty in Ireland. Which TWO groups is Swift ultimately criticizing in “A Modest Proposal”? (RI.3) The poor/lower class and Catholics The upper classes and Politicians The Irish and the poor The lower classes and Politicians In the following statement, identify the type of satire that is being used. “…A young healthy child well nursed is at a year old a most delicious, nourishing, and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled; and I have no doubt that it will equally serve in a fricassee or a ragout.” Incongruity The writer calls the condition of the poor children in Ireland what? Regrettable Deplorable Unavoidable Commendable What is NOT an advantage to his idea that Swift’s narrator cites in “A Modest Proposal”? It will decrease wife-beating It will decrease the population of Ireland It will decrease the number of voluntary abortions It will decrease sibling rivalry What problem does the narrator call attention to in the beginning of “A Modest Proposal”? According to the narrator of “A Modest Proposal,” at what age is a child best suited to serve as the solution to the problem he identifies? Before providing the details of his proposal, the narrator identifies “another great advantage” of the plan. What is that advantage? What is the one objection that the narrator thinks might “possibly be raised against this proposal”? The author’s style is characterized by his…? Ironic tone Elaborate sentences The speaker appeals to each of the following EXCEPT…? Pity Reason Greed Economy The speaker admits which of the following as the strongest objection to any proposal? That it would be regarded as cruel. That it would promote materialism. That it would increase population. That it would encourage exploitation. The speaker uses each of the following argument in support of his proposal EXCEPT…? It would prevent voluntary abortion to feed their children That it eases the burden of parent too poor to feed their children It would decrease the incidence of domestic violence It would stimulate Ireland’s economy with a new and profitable export The tone of Swift’s speaker might best be described as…? Reasoned Arrogant Objective Condescending Swift evidently wishes to have effected which of the following among members f his contemporary audience? “After all, I am not so violently bent upon my own opinion as to reject any other proposed by wise men, which shall be found equally innocent, cheap, easy, and effectual”. Understatement it’s not innocent, cheap, easy or effectual “Although I rather recommend buying the children alive than dressing them hot from the knife as we do roasting pigs”. Reversal we don’t eat kids, just pigs “I think that the advantages by the proposal which I have made are obvious and many as well as of the highest importance” Exaggeration the advantages aren’t that obvious or of highest importance “…A young healthy child well nursed is at a year old a most delicious, nourishing, and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled; and I have no doubt that it will equally serve in a fricassee or a ragout”. Incongruity normally a baby is not baked, roasted, boiled, etc., however animals are. “I grant this food will be somewhat dear and therefore very proper for landlords, who, as they have already devoured most of their parents, seem to have the best title to the children.” Exaggeration They have not literally ate parents “I can think of no one objection that will possibly be raised against this proposal, unless it should be urged that the number of people will be thereby much lessened in the kingdom”. Understatement there are many objections people might have against this proposal You are not writing an essay for this assignment. Instead you are going to develop a detailed outline for an essay you might write in the future. Use the attached worksheet to complete this assignment. Your satirical essay should be modeled after “A Modest Proposal“ so it must include the following: 1. Identification of the issue 2. A mock solution that demonstrates even more intensely the problem 3. At least three ridiculous reasons why the solution will work (use your tools of satire here) 4. A conclusion that brings home the message you want to send. 5. Humor At the end of your graphic organizer, you will see a section where you must identify the real point of the author. For our organizer on global warming, the point of the author might be that global warming is a hoax and our politicians are incorrect about the need for a solution. It may be something entirely different. Since you are the writer, it is up to you to choose the point you are making in your writing. Write a modern version of Swift's essay, addressing a social problem in our own time. You could also address poverty, or unemployment, but if you wanted to shift to an environmental or other topic and keep the abrasively ironic approach, that would be fine too. Two to three pages.
