“A Modest Proposal”—Analysis Questions
Paragraphs 1-7
1. Swift hooks the reader by referencing a common sight. What is it?
2. In the third ¶, Swift mentions the subject of his proposal. What is it?
3. What two practices does Swift speak out against in ¶ 5?
4. In the first sentence of ¶ 6, what term does Swift use to refer to women, and what comparison
is he beginning to establish—the poor as what?
5. Through ¶ 7, what kind of support does the author use to increase the credibility of his
argument?
6. In ¶ 7, what are Swift’s comments on the value of children to the society?
Paragraphs 8-19
7. In ¶ 10, Swift finally details his modest proposal. Summarize it.
8. In ¶s 10-17, Swift outlines some advantages of his proposal in terms of value and availability.
Summarize these advantages.
9. In ¶ 18, Swift recounts a tradition in Formosa and muses that it might be applied to certain
young Irish girls. Why?
10. Why isn’t Swift concerned about the aged, diseased, and maimed?
Paragraphs 20-28
11. In these ¶s, Swift lists various benefits of his proposal. Summarize the benefits to: the rich,
the aristocracy, the poor, the institution of marriage, wives, and Irish exports.
¶s 29-33
12. The italicized section indicates Swift’s sincere, rather than satiric, proposals. Paying attention
to the verbs, list these ideas.
13. In ¶ 32, Swift says that politicians who don’t like his proposal should ask someone a question.
Who, and what is the question?
14. At the end, how does he rationalize the idea that he has no personal interest in the proposal?
“A Modest Proposal”—Analysis Questions
Paragraphs 1-7
1. Swift hooks the reader by referencing a common sight. What is it?
2. In the third ¶, Swift mentions the subject of his proposal. What is it?
3. What two practices does Swift speak out against in ¶ 5?
4. In the first sentence of ¶ 6, what term does Swift use to refer to women, and what comparison
is he beginning to establish—the poor as what?
5. Through ¶ 7, what kind of support does the author use to increase the credibility of his
argument?
6. In ¶ 7, what are Swift’s comments on the value of children to the society?
Paragraphs 8-19
7. In ¶ 10, Swift finally details his modest proposal. Summarize it.
8. In ¶s 10-17, Swift outlines some advantages of his proposal in terms of value and availability.
Summarize these advantages.
9. In ¶ 18, Swift recounts a tradition in Formosa and muses that it might be applied to certain
young Irish girls. Why?
10. Why isn’t Swift concerned about the aged, diseased, and maimed?
Paragraphs 20-28
11. In these ¶s, Swift lists various benefits of his proposal. Summarize the benefits to: the rich,
the aristocracy, the poor, the institution of marriage, wives, and Irish exports.
¶s 29-33
12. The italicized section indicates Swift’s sincere, rather than satiric, proposals. Paying attention
to the verbs, list these ideas.
13. In ¶ 32, Swift says that politicians who don’t like his proposal should ask someone a question.
Who, and what is the question?
14. At the end, how does he rationalize the idea that he has no personal interest in the proposal?
“A Modest Proposal”—Analysis Questions
Paragraphs 1-7
1. Swift hooks the reader by referencing a common sight. What is it?
2. In the third ¶, Swift mentions the subject of his proposal. What is it?
3. What two practices does Swift speak out against in ¶ 5?
4. In the first sentence of ¶ 6, what term does Swift use to refer to women, and what comparison
is he beginning to establish—the poor as what?
5. Through ¶ 7, what kind of support does the author use to increase the credibility of his
argument?
6. In ¶ 7, what are Swift’s comments on the value of children to the society?
Paragraphs 8-19
7. In ¶ 10, Swift finally details his modest proposal. Summarize it.
8. In ¶s 10-17, Swift outlines some advantages of his proposal in terms of value and availability.
Summarize these advantages.
9. In ¶ 18, Swift recounts a tradition in Formosa and muses that it might be applied to certain
young Irish girls. Why?
10. Why isn’t Swift concerned about the aged, diseased, and maimed?
Paragraphs 20-28
11. In these ¶s, Swift lists various benefits of his proposal. Summarize the benefits to: the rich,
the aristocracy, the poor, the institution of marriage, wives, and Irish exports.
Paragraphs 29-33
12. The italicized section indicates Swift’s sincere, rather than satiric, proposals. Paying attention
to the verbs, list these ideas.
13. In ¶ 32, Swift says that politicians who don’t like his proposal should ask someone a question.
Who, and what is the question?
14. At the end, how does he rationalize the idea that he has no personal interest in the proposal?
“A Modest Proposal”—Analysis Questions
Paragraphs 1-7
1. Swift hooks the reader by referencing a common sight. What is it?
2. In the third ¶, Swift mentions the subject of his proposal. What is it?
3. What two practices does Swift speak out against in ¶ 5?
4. In the first sentence of ¶ 6, what term does Swift use to refer to women, and what comparison
is he beginning to establish—the poor as what?
5. Through ¶ 7, what kind of support does the author use to increase the credibility of his
argument?
6. In ¶ 7, what are Swift’s comments on the value of children to the society?
Paragraphs 8-19
7. In ¶ 10, Swift finally details his modest proposal. Summarize it.
8. In ¶s 10-17, Swift outlines some advantages of his proposal in terms of value and availability.
Summarize these advantages.
9. In ¶ 18, Swift recounts a tradition in Formosa and muses that it might be applied to certain
young Irish girls. Why?
10. Why isn’t Swift concerned about the aged, diseased, and maimed?
Paragraphs 20-28
11. In these ¶s, Swift lists various benefits of his proposal. Summarize the benefits to: the rich,
the aristocracy, the poor, the institution of marriage, wives, and Irish exports.
Paragraphs 29-33
12. The italicized section indicates Swift’s sincere, rather than satiric, proposals. Paying attention
to the verbs, list these ideas.
13. In ¶ 32, Swift says that politicians who don’t like his proposal should ask someone a question.
Who, and what is the question?
14. At the end, how does he rationalize the idea that he has no personal interest in the proposal?