A Modest Proposal Questions and Answers
A Modest Proposal
Examples of literary devices in "A Modest Proposal"
Examples of literary devices in "A Modest Proposal" include satire, irony, and hyperbole. Swift uses satire to criticize British policy towards the Irish, irony to highlight the absurdity of treating...
A Modest Proposal
Analysis of Ethos, Logos, and Pathos in "A Modest Proposal"
In "A Modest Proposal," Swift employs ethos, logos, and pathos ironically to highlight the inhumanity of his argument. Logos is most prevalent, as dispassionate calculations of children as...
A Modest Proposal
Irony and Rhetorical Strategies in "A Modest Proposal"
Jonathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal" employs irony and satire to critique the British treatment of the Irish during a famine. The irony becomes apparent when Swift suggests eating infants as a...
A Modest Proposal
Find two metaphors in Jonathan Swift’s “A Modest Proposal”.
Two metaphors in Jonathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal" are "devoured" and "title." "Devoured" compares landlords financially destroying tenants to physically eating them, while "title" compares the...
A Modest Proposal
Reactions to Swift's "A Modest Proposal"
Reactions to Swift's "A Modest Proposal" vary. Some find it a brilliant and hilarious satire that effectively condemns the English wealthy and government. Others, lacking background knowledge,...
A Modest Proposal
Who is the intended audience of "A Modest Proposal"?
The audience of "A Modest Proposal" is the wealthy Anglo-Irish landowners who refused to take even simple steps to alleviate the suffering of the poor.
A Modest Proposal
Swift's Tone and Characterization in "A Modest Proposal"
In "A Modest Proposal," Jonathan Swift uses a satirical tone to criticize the British exploitation of the Irish. The proposer, characterized as an intellectual and reformer, ironically suggests...
A Modest Proposal
Speaker vs. Author in "A Modest Proposal"
In "A Modest Proposal," Jonathan Swift employs a satirical voice through a fictional narrator to critique the social and economic conditions in Ireland under English rule. Swift's own voice intrudes...
A Modest Proposal
How does Jonathan Swift use the word "dressing" in three different ways in "A Modest Proposal"?
In "A Modest Proposal," Jonathan Swift uses "dressing" in three distinct ways. First, he describes "dressing" roasted children like pigs, emphasizing the grotesque satire of his proposal. Second, he...
A Modest Proposal
What is the purpose of the last paragraph in A Modest Proposal?
The purpose of the last paragraph in "A Modest Proposal" is to reinforce the author's feigned sincerity and seriousness about his satirical suggestion. Swift emphasizes that the proposal is not for...
A Modest Proposal
Rhetorical Strategies and Satirical Intentions in "A Modest Proposal"
Jonathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal" employs satire to criticize the English response to Irish poverty. In the final paragraph, Swift uses irony and litotes to highlight his deep concern for the...
A Modest Proposal
The Power and Effectiveness of Satire in "A Modest Proposal" by Jonathan Swift
Jonathan Swift's A Modest Proposal is a masterful work of satire that uses irony and a formal, logical style to highlight the dire situation of the Irish poor under English oppression. Swift's...
A Modest Proposal
The irony of the word "modest" in the title of "A Modest Proposal."
The irony of the word "modest" in the title of "A Modest Proposal" lies in the extreme and outrageous nature of Swift's suggestion to solve poverty by eating children. The proposal is anything but...
A Modest Proposal
Logical fallacies and satirical quotes in "A Modest Proposal."
Jonathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal" employs logical fallacies and satirical quotes to criticize British policy towards the Irish. It uses absurdity and irony, such as proposing the poor sell their...
A Modest Proposal
Jonathan Swift's suggested alternatives to his plan in "A Modest Proposal"
In "A Modest Proposal," Jonathan Swift suggests several alternatives to his satirical plan, including taxing absentee landlords, promoting local goods, instilling a sense of patriotism, and...
A Modest Proposal
Authority in "A Modest Proposal"
In "A Modest Proposal," Jonathan Swift uses satire to critique societal attitudes towards the Irish poor by having his narrator rely on dubious authorities to bolster his outrageous proposal. The...
A Modest Proposal
Other solutions Swift suggests in "A Modest Proposal" besides eating children
In "A Modest Proposal," Swift suggests several other solutions besides eating children, including taxing absentee landlords, encouraging domestic goods production, and promoting frugality and...
A Modest Proposal
Landlords and Proposed Food in "A Modest Proposal"
In Jonathan Swift's satirical essay "A Modest Proposal," the landlords represent the wealthy Irish who exploit the impoverished. Swift sarcastically suggests that these landlords, who metaphorically...
A Modest Proposal
The narrator and their perspective in "A Modest Proposal."
The narrator of "A Modest Proposal" is an unnamed, satirical persona who presents themselves as a rational and concerned economist. This perspective allows Jonathan Swift to critique British policy...
A Modest Proposal
In "A Modest Proposal," what term does Swift use instead of "mother" in paragraph six?
In paragraph six of "A Modest Proposal," Swift uses the term "breeders" instead of "mothers." This choice of word reflects the dehumanizing view of Irish women, reducing them to their reproductive...
A Modest Proposal
What is the nationality of the person who suggested eating well-nursed babies in Swift's A Modest Proposal?
The person who suggested eating well-nursed babies in Jonathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal" is identified as "an American acquaintance in London." This reference is politically significant as Swift, a...
A Modest Proposal
Which country is alluded to in "A Modest Proposal"?
"A Modest Proposal" alludes primarily to Ireland, addressing its social and economic issues, and the tensions with England. The speaker sarcastically suggests cannibalism as a solution to poverty,...
A Modest Proposal
What are three major points Swift advocates in "A Modest Proposal"? Did his plan to free babies succeed?
Jonathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal" satirically criticizes the exploitation of the Irish poor by English and Irish landowners. He suggests eating babies as a grotesque solution to poverty,...
A Modest Proposal
In "A Modest Proposal," who does Swift suggest would preserve the nation?
Jonathan Swift, in "A Modest Proposal," suggests that anyone who can devise a solution to the problem of child poverty in Ireland would be considered a "preserver of the nation." This person,...
A Modest Proposal
What are examples of "Ironic Inversion" and "Bathos" in A Modest Proposal and their purpose?
In "A Modest Proposal," ironic inversion is used when Swift suggests landlords eat children since they already exploit their parents, while bathos occurs when he claims no personal gain from his...
A Modest Proposal
What will the children of Ireland do as adults to support themselves, according to "A Modest Proposal"?
In "A Modest Proposal," the narrator satirically suggests that Irish children, facing bleak futures, should be sold as food to the wealthy. The grim alternatives for these children include crime,...
A Modest Proposal
Why doesn't Swift end the sentence after "food" in paragraph 9 of "A Modest Proposal"?
Swift extends the sentence after "food" to amplify the satire in his proposal by graphically detailing various cooking methods for children. This exaggeration highlights the narrator's insensitivity...
A Modest Proposal
Writing a proposal essay with humor and satire inspired by "A Modest Proposal."
To write a proposal essay with humor and satire inspired by "A Modest Proposal," focus on addressing a serious issue with an exaggerated, ironic solution. Use hyperbole, wit, and a tone of...
A Modest Proposal
What is the effect of first-person usage in "A Modest Proposal"?
The effect of using the first person in "A Modest Proposal" is to highlight the cruelty of treating the poor as if they are no more than an economic problem to be solved. The speaker clearly thinks...
A Modest Proposal
What's an outrageous solution to the increasing drug rate in "A Modest Proposal" context?
In the context of "A Modest Proposal," outrageous solutions to the drug crisis include requiring addicts to overdose in front of non-addicts to stir sympathy, legally mandating drug use to eliminate...
A Modest Proposal
Why does Swift bundle his suggestions in A Modest Proposal rather than stating them outright? Does this increase...
Swift chooses to bundle his real suggestions into A Modest Proposal rather than stating them outright because he hopes they will look appealing in contrast to the shocking idea of eating the infants...
A Modest Proposal
Who is the "expert" in Swift's "A Modest Proposal"?
In "A Modest Proposal," the "expert" is an unnamed "very knowing American" whom Jonathan Swift cites to lend credibility to his satirical argument. This appeal to authority is deliberately ironic, as...
A Modest Proposal
At what point in "A Modest Proposal" did you realize Swift's proposal was not serious?
In "A Modest Proposal," Swift's satire becomes apparent when he discusses selling children for consumption, which seems unrealistic. Initially, readers might suspect the proposal's absurdity when...
A Modest Proposal
Which of the following is NOT offered as a "refinement" of the speaker's proposal in paragraph 17?
The speaker's proposal in paragraph 17 does not include objections related to the loss of able-bodied workers or the prohibitive cost of fattening teenagers. Instead, it acknowledges that many...
A Modest Proposal
How would you characterize the speaker's tone in his proposal?
The speaker's tone in his proposal is earnest and matter-of-fact, using logic and factual information to support a shocking and satirical suggestion. He appears completely serious and lacks any...
A Modest Proposal
What does the speaker find "melancholy" in "A Modest Proposal"?
The speaker in "A Modest Proposal" finds it "melancholy" to see impoverished women and their children begging on the streets of Ireland, highlighting the widespread poverty. This sentiment is...
A Modest Proposal
What is the "great town" referred to in "A Modest Proposal's" opening paragraph?
The "great town" referred to in the opening paragraph of Jonathan Swift's satirical essay "A Modest Proposal" is Dublin, the capital of Ireland. The essay, written in the 1720s during the Irish...
A Modest Proposal
What is the narrator's real meaning when he suggests baby consumption in "A Modest Proposal"?
The narrator's suggestion of baby consumption in "A Modest Proposal" is a satirical critique of English policies towards Ireland, particularly mercantilism. Swift uses verbal irony to highlight the...
A Modest Proposal
Propose an outrageous solution to a real problem, mimicking Swift's style in "A Modest Proposal".
To parody Swift's "A Modest Proposal," you might satirize modern issues like obesity or homelessness. For example, target the fast food industry by suggesting that obese individuals be hired as...
A Modest Proposal
Can you identify an example of asyndeton in "A Modest Proposal" by Jonathan Swift?
An example of asyndeton in “A Modest Proposal” by Jonathan Swift can be found in the fifth-to-last paragraph, in which Swift lists ten alternate ideas and ironically dismisses them.
A Modest Proposal
How would you rewrite this passage from "A Modest Proposal" in informal, formal, journalistic, archaic, and gothic...
To rewrite the passage informally, start with "Everyone agrees that too many kids are a problem for the kingdom..." For a formal tone, use "All parties acquiesce to the fact..." In a journalistic...
A Modest Proposal
I need to write a proposal similar to "A Modest Proposal" by Jonathan Swift. Can you help me come up with an idea and...
To create a proposal similar to Swift's "A Modest Proposal," choose a contemporary issue and propose an outrageous, satirical solution. For structure, follow Swift's format: define the problem and...
A Modest Proposal
Why is agreement necessary to establish the satire in "A Modest Proposal"?
Agreement is necessary to establish satire in "A Modest Proposal" because it initially aligns the reader with the author's seemingly reasonable observations about Ireland's poverty. By agreeing on...
A Modest Proposal
Who informed Swift about the idea of using children as a food source?
Jonathan Swift’s idea of using children as a food source in his satirical essay may have been influenced by John Locke’s writings on ancient societies that allegedly consumed children. In the essay,...
A Modest Proposal
What are the pros and cons of reliable or unreliable narrators in A Modest Proposal and 'Shooting an Elephant'?
Reliable narrators provide clear, objective accounts, making it easy for readers to trust and understand the narrative. Unreliable narrators, as seen in A Modest Proposal and "Shooting an Elephant,"...
A Modest Proposal
In Jonathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal," what does he mean by an unfavorable balance of trade with England?
In "A Modest Proposal," Jonathan Swift highlights the unfavorable balance of trade with England, where Ireland's resources, such as food and crops, are exported to England, leaving the Irish...