Jonathan Swift Questions about the Lands Gulliver’s Travels General A Modest Proposal Literary Terms

Jonathan Swift What ethnicity was Swift?

Answer Anglo-Irishman: Born in Ireland to English parents

Jonathan Swift What relative paid for Swift’s education?

Answer His uncle

Jonathan Swift What prestigious job did the author hold in Dublin?

Answer He was dean of St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

Jonathan Swift How did Swift’s attitude toward humankind change throughout his life?

Answer He became very cynical and lost all hope for our redemption.

Jonathan Swift From what disease did Swift suffer?

Answer Meniere’s Disease: a disease of the inner ear that affects balance and memory

Lilliput How did Gulliver end up on the Island of Lilliput?

Answer His ship encounters a big storm and crashes into a rock. The ship sinks, his crew is lost and he swims to the island.

Lilliput Who warns Gulliver that his life is threatened?

Answer Drunlo

Laputa Where does Gulliver find the room of answers?

Answer The Academy

Fountain of Immortality What gift does Gulliver give the gate keeper?

Answer A giant wasp’s sting

Houyhnhnms/Yahoos Explain the juxtaposition of these two societies. (How are they opposite?)

Answer The Houhynhnms are the ideal of human race, those who maintain a simple and peaceful society, whereas the Yahoos represent the vices of humans such as greed, lust, and violence.

Gulliver’s Travels - General What is Gulliver’s occupation before he leaves his family?

Answer Doctor in a small village

Gulliver’s Travels - General From what word does the name Gulliver derive?

Answer Gull or Gullible

Gulliver’s Travels - General Why does Gulliver leave his family?

Answer To earn more money to provide them with a good life.

Gulliver’s Travels - General What drives Dr. Bates’s interest in Gulliver?

Answer He wants to marry Mary.

Gulliver’s Travels - General How is Gulliver’s innocence proven?

Answer Tom brings the little sheep to the trial.

A Modest Proposal What is “A Modest Proposal”?

Answer A satirical pamphlet.

A Modest Proposal What are two problems that Swift satirizes in “A Modest Proposal”?

Answer Poverty, unemployment, over population, oppression of the Irish, and overindulgence.

A Modest Proposal Swift gives many reasons why his solution is appropriate. Name two ways he says Irish society will benefit from following his advice.

Answer 1.Poor tenants, will be better able to pay off their debts to their landlords. 2.The national economy will benefit, turning the overpopulation problem into part of the national product. 3.The parents of these children will make a profit beyond just the eight-shilling sale price, since they will be relieved of the expense of caring for the children after the first year. 4. The new food will undoubtedly improve business in taverns. 5. Encouraging marriage and increasing mothers' love for their children. 6. Reduce domestic violence, at least during the time of pregnancy, "for fear of a Miscarriage."

A Modest Proposal Who, according to Swift, are the “principle Breeders of the Nations”?

Answer Catholics.

A Modest Proposal Who will be the primary consumers of human flesh according to the author?

Answer Primarily the wealthy English.

Literary Terms What is satire?

Answer A piece that mocks society

Literary Terms What are the three types of appeals that Swift uses in A Modest Proposal?

Answer Emotional, Logical, and Ethical

Literary Terms What is irony?

Answer When something does not turn out as expected

Literary Terms What are the three types of irony?

Answer Verbal, Situational, and Dramatic

Literary Terms What are the two types of satire?

Answer Horatian and Juvenalian