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A Modest Proposal

A Modest Proposal. By Jonathan Swift. About the Author. Swift was born in Ireland in 1667, Catholic Lived and worked between Ireland and England Was known for his works of satire Also famous for “Gulliver’s Travels”. Background. 1720s: Starvation was widespread in Ireland

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A Modest Proposal

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  1. A Modest Proposal By Jonathan Swift

  2. About the Author • Swift was born in Ireland in 1667, Catholic • Lived and worked between Ireland and England • Was known for his works of satire • Also famous for “Gulliver’s Travels”

  3. Background • 1720s: Starvation was widespread in Ireland -Irish harvests were poor for years -Farmers couldn’t pay rent demanded by their English landlords -Beggars and children filled the streets -England’s policies kept the poor poor

  4. Background: How’d the English Get Into Ireland? • In 1541, the government of Ireland recognized Henry VIII (Protestant English King) as the King of Ireland (Catholic) • By 1703, England owned all but 10% of the land in Ireland • Laws severely limited the rights of the Irish to hold government office, purchase real estate, get an education, and advance themselves in other ways. • As a result, many Irish fled to foreign lands, including America. Most of those who remained in Ireland lived in poverty, facing disease, starvation, and prejudice.

  5. Purpose of the Proposal • To make England more sympathetic to Ireland’s suffering • He exposes this by using satire and ironyto show England how ridiculous they’re being • The craziness of the proposal mimics the craziness of England’s attitude twd. Ireland

  6. Satire • theuseof irony, sarcasm, ridicule, etc., in exposing the wrongs of society. irony: theuseofwords to conveyameaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning (EX: “How nice!” when I said I had to work all weekend.) dramatic irony: irony that’s understood by the audience but not the characters *verbal irony: when a person says one thing but means another (used in A Modest Proposal)

  7. Vocab • Modest (adj): humble; free from vanity or ego • Burden (n): something bad you have to deal with • Importune (v): to beg persistently and urgently • Sustenance (n): the act of sustaining life through food or money • Native (adj): refers to someone who was born in a place (we’re native to PA)

  8. Prodigious (adj): extremely big • Deplorable (adj): very poor condition • Grievance (n): a complaint against a person or organization • Raiment (n): very expensive and decorative clothing • Savage (adj): an uncivilized person • Renowned (adj): widely known and liked

  9. Commodity (n): something that can be bought or sold • Render (v): cause to become • Eminent (adj): prominent • Repine (v): to express unhappiness • Deference (an): courteous regard for others’ feelings • Scrupulous (adj): extremely careful and picky

  10. Censure (v): to yell at • Parsimony (n): extreme stinginess • Propagation (v): producing children or animals • Contrive (v): to work out a plan • Prudent (adj): smart and sensible • Vintner (n): a wine seller

  11. Some Themes • Prejudice By England’s Protestants twd Ireland’s Catholics • Unfair Treatment of the Poor Landlords get fatter while the poor die of starvation • Laziness Swift is calling people to action to help the Irish

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