“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?

Paragraphs8-19

  1. In ¶ 10, Swift finally details his modest proposal. Summarize it.
  2. In ¶s 10-17, Swift outlines some advantages of his proposal in terms of value and availability. Summarize these advantages.
  3. In ¶ 18, Swift recounts a tradition in Formosa and muses that it might be applied to certain young Irish girls. Why?
  4. Why isn’t Swift concerned about the aged, diseased, and maimed?

Paragraphs20-28

  1. 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

  1. The italicized section indicates Swift’s sincere, rather than satiric, proposals. Paying attention to the verbs, list these ideas.
  2. In ¶ 32, Swift says that politicians who don’t like his proposal should ask someone a question. Who, and what is the question?
  3. At the end, how does he rationalize the idea that he has no personal interest in the proposal?

“A Modest Proposal”—Analysis Questions

Paragraphs1-7

  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?

Paragraphs8-19

  1. In ¶ 10, Swift finally details his modest proposal. Summarize it.
  2. In ¶s 10-17, Swift outlines some advantages of his proposal in terms of value and availability. Summarize these advantages.
  3. In ¶ 18, Swift recounts a tradition in Formosa and muses that it might be applied to certain young Irish girls. Why?
  4. Why isn’t Swift concerned about the aged, diseased, and maimed?

Paragraphs20-28

  1. 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.

Paragraphs29-33

  1. The italicized section indicates Swift’s sincere, rather than satiric, proposals. Paying attention to the verbs, list these ideas.
  2. In ¶ 32, Swift says that politicians who don’t like his proposal should ask someone a question. Who, and what is the question?
  3. At the end, how does he rationalize the idea that he has no personal interest in the proposal?

“A Modest Proposal”—Analysis Questions

Paragraphs1-7

  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

  1. In ¶ 10, Swift finally details his modest proposal. Summarize it.
  2. In ¶s 10-17, Swift outlines some advantages of his proposal in terms of value and availability. Summarize these advantages.
  3. In ¶ 18, Swift recounts a tradition in Formosa and muses that it might be applied to certain young Irish girls. Why?
  4. Why isn’t Swift concerned about the aged, diseased, and maimed?

Paragraphs20-28

  1. 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

  1. The italicized section indicates Swift’s sincere, rather than satiric, proposals. Paying attention to the verbs, list these ideas.
  2. In ¶ 32, Swift says that politicians who don’t like his proposal should ask someone a question. Who, and what is the question?
  3. At the end, how does he rationalize the idea that he has no personal interest in the proposal?

“A Modest Proposal”—Analysis Questions

Paragraphs1-7

  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?

Paragraphs8-19

  1. In ¶ 10, Swift finally details his modest proposal. Summarize it.
  2. In ¶s 10-17, Swift outlines some advantages of his proposal in terms of value and availability. Summarize these advantages.
  3. In ¶ 18, Swift recounts a tradition in Formosa and muses that it might be applied to certain young Irish girls. Why?
  4. Why isn’t Swift concerned about the aged, diseased, and maimed?

Paragraphs20-28

  1. 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.

Paragraphs29-33

  1. The italicized section indicates Swift’s sincere, rather than satiric, proposals. Paying attention to the verbs, list these ideas.
  2. In ¶ 32, Swift says that politicians who don’t like his proposal should ask someone a question. Who, and what is the question?
  3. At the end, how does he rationalize the idea that he has no personal interest in the proposal?