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Jonathan Swift

Jonathan Swift . 1667-1745. Early Journey . Came from a poor family Studied at Kilkenny Grammar School Attended Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland Worked for Sir William Temple in Surrey English statesman and essayist . Career as a writer . “Cousin Swift, you will never be a poet”

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Jonathan Swift

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  1. Jonathan Swift 1667-1745

  2. Early Journey • Came from a poor family • Studied at Kilkenny Grammar School • Attended Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland • Worked for Sir William Temple in Surrey • English statesman and essayist

  3. Career as a writer • “Cousin Swift, you will never be a poet” • John Dryden • Career change • Anglican priest in Ireland • Rededicated himself to writing two years later • His GOAL: mend the evils he saw in the world • “like individuals but hated humanity”

  4. Swift’s satire Swift wrote very pointed and sharp satirical pieces. • “A Modest Proposal” • First published anonymously in 1729 • Mocks Irish policy • Mocks heartless attitude towards Ireland’s poor population • Purpose: have reader notice or become aware of the political and social issues in Ireland

  5. Ireland 1700s • Strongly influenced by England • English merchants very successful and prosperous • Most land lords were Englishmen still living in England • Pushing Protestant religion on the Irish • Mainly a Catholic country • Years of famine and suffering • Mass poverty

  6. While we read… … find ways Swifts builds his credibly for his cause in the text and as an essayist. … notice the “real” social and political issues Swift attempts to address.

  7. Swift’s satire Swift wrote very pointed and sharp satirical pieces. • “Gulliver’s Travels” • Tale of four fantastic lands • Sanitization of European political and intellectual landscape • Wicked satire of politics an political moral

  8. Swift’s Satire Swift wrote very pointed and sharp satirical pieces. • Part I: Voyage to Liliput • People are 1/12 the size of Gulliver • Small-minded and petty • Part II: A Voyage to Brobdingnag • People are 12 times larger than Gulliver • European social and technological achievements = “pernicious race of little odious vermin” • Part III: Laputa • Flying island with wise scholars • Inept of practical endeavors • Part IV: Land of Houyhnhnms • Speaking horses • Stupidity of humans

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