Response Questions – Swift’s “Modest Proposal”- on your own, discuss and write down the answer to your assigned question .
Rachel S, Hallie (para 1-3)
Emily, Rebecca
1. What is Swift's attitude toward the beggars he describes in the opening paragraph? How does he feel about the poor Irish in general?
Sean (para 4-6)
Kyle, Brenna
2. Where do the speaker's allegiances lie in this essay? With what social groups does he identify himself?
Kali (para 7-10)
Drew
3. In paragraph 6, Swift alludes to the economic situation in Ireland. Explain the economic situation and why it doesn’t allow for large populations of people.
Amita, Tim (para 11-14)
Alex
4. Why might Swift mention an American in London in paragraph 9?
Courtney, Sam (para 15-17)
Zane, Hannah
5. How does Swift rationalize his proposal in paragraphs 10-16?
Lia, Kammie (para 18-20)
Lindsey
6. What does “popish” mean?
Dylan, Xinyang (para 21-23)
Azita, Savannah
7. Persona can be defined as the character created by the rhetor when she/he writes, speaks, or presents. What sort of persona does Swift create for the "author" of A Modest Proposal?
Olivia, Brittany (24-26)
Chelsey, Eli
8. Where do you detect differences between the "proposer" and Swift himself?
Ryann, Josh (27-28)
Matt P.
9. If Swift does not actually think the Irish people should eat their children, what does he think they should do?
Daelin, Rachel F. (29-30)
Cassie
10. Who is the audience of this work?
Dylan, Nick (31-31)
Sharif
11. Who will be the beneficiaries of this "Modest Proposal"?
Candace (sentence structure)
Sophia
12. When did it first become apparent to you that Swift's proposal was not serious? How did you respond?
Matt (grammatical terms –gerund, adjective, adverbs, ect…)
13. What relevance does A Modest Proposal have for contemporary social and political issues?
Riley (fallacies)
Cassius
14. In paragraph 25, Swift uses the word “profit.” How can the meaning of this word be interpreted in a variety of ways?
Celeste (argument structure)
Hunter
15. How might the phrase “it’s a dog eat dog world” fit in with Swift’s proposal?
Rhetorical Devices
As we start to further explore style, you will want to become more familiar with rhetorical devices….so…..
1. Get out your Lang terms lists on lit terms (metonymy, allegory, paradox…)
2. Read through the paragraphs assigned to you in Swift’s and hunt for ANY and all rhetorical devices. Highlight each rhetorical device in the paragraphs assigned to you (or the topic assigned to you) and explain why the author might have used this rhetorical device (inferences are ok and encouraged).
Now It’s Your Turn!
DUE AT THE START OF CLASS TOMORROW!
Based on the options below, create your own Modest Proposal (three to four paragraphs in length) Be sure to include the following elements:
1. Your response must be satirical.
2. Your response must include two metaphors.
3. Your response must include a well-known aphorism
4. Use of connotation.
5. Deliberate persona.
6.Your response must include metonymy.
Option #1: That Ain’t No Dance Move!
It has come to the attention of school officials and students at Camas High School that the “activities” at school dances are out of hand, inappropriate, vulgar and dangerous. Despite the efforts of administration and staff, the “activities” continue and prove to cause turmoil in many students’ lives. Propose a solution to the problem.
Option #2: Running on Empty
Gas prices are up $.22 from a year ago and $.14 from a month ago. Something has got to change or more Americans will find themselves walking to work. Propose a solution to rising gas prices.
“A Modest Proposal” by Jonathan Swift (1667-1745), (Gulliver’s Travels)
Published in 1729.
Ireland (not an independent country) was far poorer than England.
Most Irish were Roman Catholics, many employed as laborers on farms.
Landowners (many of whom were Protestant and held ties to England) were paid from the produce of the land at rates workers could rarely afford.
Ruling class were usually Protestants, many not born in Ireland or living there permanently.
No social security system, starvation common, workers easily replaced.
Swift was aware that some Irish had been driven to cannibalism.