1. A MODEST Proposal AP 12 HONORS 12
SATIRE and Swift
A MODEST Proposal
AP 12
HONORS 12

2. What is satire?
the use of irony, derision, or wit to attack a social institution; it reveals flaws and intends to move the reader/viewer/listener to action.
Satire is used in many works of literature to show foolishness or vice in humans, organizations, or even governments
It uses sarcasm, ridicule, or irony.
For example, satire is often used to effect political or social change, or to prevent it.
Satire can be used in a part of a work or it can be used throughout an entire work.
Parody- Pope’s “Rape of the Lock” – epic parody, Don Quixote parodies medieval romance
Think back to Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales– Miller and Reeve

3. Purpose and techniques of satire
Dissatisfaction with how things are– to elicit change
NOT constructive advice—rather an expose of folly
EXAGGERATION
Not objective
Expose errors and absurdities that we no longer notice because custom and familiarity have blinded us to them.
Use of INVECTIVE- name calling
Can be fiction, nonfiction, poetry and drama
Parody-mocking imitation of a writer’s style or a particular genre. Often the style is applied to a trivial subject

4. Jonathan Swift

5. Who was Mr. Swift? Anglo- Irishman Poor, but educated Priest
“fated to live in Ireland”
Did not write for fame or money—he published most of his works anonymously.
His goal in writing…to improve human conduct, to make people decent and human
Gulliver’s Travels
Pro-Irish in writing
-Anglo-Irishmen- people who lived in Ireland but regard selves as more British than Irish
poor, but uncle pays for his education
Obtains a master’s degree from Oxford, ordained as priest in Church of Ireland, which is affiliated with Church of England
Really wanted a career in England but seemed fated to live in Ireland which he described as a cultural desert inhabited by Roman Catholic natives and Scottish Presbyterian immigrants—people whom Swift neither respected or admired
GT attacks different varieties of human misbehaviors, vice and folly
- Pro Irish in writings—defends the Irish against the oppressive British politics

6. Context of “A Modest Proposal”
No one is listening to his solutions to problems in Ireland-
Harvests poor
Farmers can’t pay rent
Beggars and starving children
So…
Published in 1729
SO…. He writes a pamphlet that provides an outrageous solution to famine and human misery in hopes that by using shocking satire, English society would become conscious of its unspeakable wrongs and correct them.

7. How did he do it?
RISKS being seen as a monster himself in order to expose the “monstrous behavior” of others.
Persuasive techniques used-
Logos
Ethos
Pathos
Verbal irony
Voice- practice economic planner
Protesting against a “statistical view of humanity”
Swift pretends to be objective, full of common sense, sensitive and kind
Statistical view of humanity—reduces people to breeders and babies to meat

9. REVIEW of READING What is his proposal?
What problem is he trying to solve?
Swift lists six advantages to his proposal. What are they?
Swift’s REAL ideas are in italics.
*Generally, what are his ideas?
*Why are they presented in italics?
* Why does he brush these sensible ideas aside?

10. LOGOS ETHOS PATHOS OH MY!
5. What is IRONIC about the title of this article? 6. Find some examples: logos ethos pathos