1. Jonathan Swift 1667-1745 Honors British Literature

2. Satire vs. Sarcasm  Think of society as represented by an individual person. A social problem is represented by a boil on the person’s neck.  Sarcasm resembles another individual gleefully taking a dulled razor and chopping at the boil. The writers using sarcasm finds pleasure in hurting.  The writer using satire is like a doctor taking a sharp scalpel to the boil in order to help the person. The action hurts at first, but the ultimate intention is to help – to heal society’s ills.

3. Baby Skull Necklace  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKccr8g1xCU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKccr8g1xCU

4. Blood Diamonds  What Are Blood Diamonds? The term “blood diamond” refers to diamonds that come from war zones in Africa, and are sold (typically illegally) in order to fund insurgent war efforts against legitimate and internationally recognized governments. These rebel factions trade diamonds with illicit arms dealers to fund their military action in opposition to those governments. Millions of deaths are linked to the rebel wars and trafficking of these gems. Labor Exploitation Labor exploitation has also been linked to blood diamonds. African miners are exposed to atrocious living conditions and even worse working conditions. They don’t have shoes, gloves, hard hats or flashlights, and their tools - picks, ropes – are simple and do nothing to relieve the back- breaking work. Mine shafts are unsecured and very dangerous. Accidents are frequent and many miners have been buried alive in these pits. At the end of a full workday, miners get paid less than a dollar. Finding a diamond may only get them $50.

5. His work  Best known as a master of the satiric form.  Indulges in bitter criticisms targeting the weaknesses of governments, institutions, and leaders.  He attempted to reform his society by portraying abuses.  His work challenges readers to modify their thinking.

6. “A Modest Proposal”  He aims to reveal the horror of the Irish economic situation.  His satiric treatise uses the “reasonable” logic of his age to bring home the point.  He writes with two different viewpoints: his own and that of the essayist, who firmly believes in the logic of what he is proposing.  Ironically it is through this disagreeable persona that Swift, the essayist, expresses his opinions.

7. Intended Audience  This is complex: it first appears to be directed at the English, whose policies often oppressed the Irish.  A closer reading reveals he also intended the Irish people – whom he regards as foolish and lethargic, unwilling to make efforts to improve their condition.  His solution is presented as a better course of action than the present one the Irish followed, that of doing nothing at all.