The Restoration Time Period – Prezi Introduction
The time period called the Restoration was a relatively short period of time in English history. It
was called the Restoration for several reasons:
 It restored King ___________________________ to power in England after an exile.
 Charles brought with him ___________________________ culture and taste (restoring
England to a cultured state once again.
 Charles restored ___________________________ to England after the civil wars that
dominated the Stuart dynasty after Charles I was executed.
England during the Restoration paralleled Ancient Rome:
 Charles II restored peace and order, much like Emperor ___________________ in Rome.
 Writing during this time period was ___________________________, a return to the
classics
This was the age of reason and enlightenment in England:
 People were gradually changing their views of ___________________ and the world.
 Asked ___________________ things happen and what they mean
 Focus on ___________________ and ___________________; but went away from the
previous connection with human affairs
 Scientists wanted to shorten the long, drawn out writing of ___________________
writers – led to English Prose
There were several changes in religion during this time:
 ___________________ was the idea that a creator set the universe in motion and let it
run on its own, like clockwork
 This idea came from more scientific and rational explanations of phenomena (comets,
weather disasters, etc.)
 Most philosophers and scientists, however, remained ___________________, as
Christianity took on many forms
Religion and Politics took on new forms during the Restoration:
 After Henry VIII established the Church of England, many of the civil wars that followed
led to changes in rulers
 Some ___________________, some ___________________.
 Charles II restored Church of England
 Led to persecution of Puritans, Quakers
 Many of them left and traveled to the ___________________
 Also led to conflicts with other areas of Britain that were still Catholic –
___________________, ___________________, and ___________________
Writing during the Restoration:
 Closer to “normal” English – even ___________________!
 Satire – public ridicule
 Nonfiction – essays, letters
 Epic poetry (new form from Classical writing)
 Ode – poem to express public ___________________
 Pastoral poetry – writing about simple country life
 First ___________________ during this time
Satire in Shrek
An introduction to satire and satirical techniques
SATIRE – Definition
 A literary work that ridicules its subject through the use of techniques such as
exaggeration, reversal, incongruity, and/or parody to make a comment or criticism about
it.
o Exaggeration
o Reversal
o Incongruity
o Parody
Examples of Satirical Techniques in Shrek Clip
Exaggeration:
Incongruity:
Reversal:
Parody:
What other fairy tales are parodied in the remainder of the movie Shrek?
Closing:
Identify the main comment or criticism about society that is being made by the satirical
techniques in this clip from Shrek. Hint: What is the underlying lesson or unwritten moral? What
about society is being made fun of?
Jonathan Swift's masterful satire, "A Modest Proposal," [mockingly!]
proposes to solve the devastating poverty in Ireland by selling poor children
as food for wealthy families. Swift goes on to explain how this would solve
all of Ireland's problems from domestic abuse to poverty. Swift 's Projector
explains his proposal in depth, in many ways treating these children as
nothing more than a new type of livestock. Towards the end, however, Swift
lists numerous reforms that could help the country. This list makes a change
in tone. However, these reforms differ from Swift's "modest proposal"
because instead of the poor sacrificing their children, it would involve the
rich sacrificing some of their luxuries.
Glossary
Some of the unfamiliar terms in the Modest Proposal are explained below
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Chair: (Here) a Sedan Chair - a covered chair supported by poles, carried by two bearers.
Episcopal: To do with (here appointed by) a bishop - the adjective refers to church
administration at the time Swift wrote.
Gibbet: Place where criminals are hanged.
Mandarin: Important official serving an oriental (originally Chinese) ruler, or any high
official today.
Papists: Supporters of the Pope, an insulting name for Catholics.
Pretender: James Stuart, a Catholic who pretended to (claimed) the English and Scottish
thrones. He is sometimes known as the Old Pretender, while his son, Charles Edward
Stuart, is known as the Young Pretender (or Bonnie Prince Charlie)
Shambles: Place (usually in a town) where animals are slaughtered and butchered.
Solar year: A year in the ordinary sense (as measured by the earth's going once round the
sun).
Questions
1. Overall how successful is Swift's piece? At this point when Swift mentions real reforms that
could help Ireland, has the satire become overpowering in the piece or does it strengthen this
moment? Is the reader desensitized to the essay by this point? Does this moment have the impact
it should?
2. Obviously much of Swift's piece is satire, yet, how should lines referring to Catholics and
Jews be interpreted? Does the border of satire reach so far as to include these comments, or are
they real prejudices coming through in the essay?
3. Swift's social politics seem to come through fairly clearly here, placing much of the blame for
the state of the nation on the greed of the wealthy; however, do you think that it is as simple as
that for Swift?
4. Who, if anyone, is (or are) really to blame for the state of Ireland? See if you can find those
whom Swift casts as the villains of the piece. Give your reasons.
“A Modest Proposal” Structure Analysis
Directions: Write the relevant details from each section in the proposal. We will be using the
same basic structure to create our own “Modest Proposals.”
I.
Introduction (paragraphs 1-7)
II.
Thesis Statement (paragraphs 7-9)
III.
How the plan will work (paragraphs 10-19)
IV.
Advantages of the plan (paragraphs 20-28)
V.
Possible objections/other solutions (paragraphs 29-30)
VI.
Conclusion (paragraphs 31-33)
Write your own Modest Proposal
As a class, brainstorm topics. Choose a topic from the list or come up with your own.
My Topic: ___________________________
Outline your proposal:
1. Introduction – Define & describe the problem.
2. Thesis Statement – Briefly, how do you propose to solve the problem?
3. Body 1 – How the plan will work
4. Body 2 – Advantages of the plan
5. Body 3 - Possible objections/other solutions that have not worked
6. Conclusion – call to action; what will happen as a result of your solution