Analyzing the Author’s Writing Style—

Jonathan Swift’s Savage Wit in “A Modest Proposal”

Swift’s signature style used in his great satiric works sets him apart from his more lighthearted contemporaries and even from most satirist today. An uncompromising moralist, Swift was continually disappointed by what he saw as humankind’s corruption. His passion made him bitter, but his irony gave his bitterness a clever twist.

Key Aspects of Swift’s Style

·  The use of a persona—a narrator or speaker other than Swift—as an object of satire.

·  Words, phrases, and situations that are shocking or disturbing.

·  Ironic statements and situations that point out human shortcomings and faults.

·  The use of understatement to expose mindless acceptance of surface facts (assumptions) without regard to their deeper meaning.

Examine the following passages from “A Modest Proposal” and determine Swift’s style…
“This food will be… very proper for landlords, who, as they have already devoured most of the parents, seem to have the best title to the children” (615).
“I am assured by our merchants that a boy or girl before twelve’s years old is *no salable commodity” (615).
*Worthless
“I rather recommend buying the children alive and dressing them hot from the knife as we do roasting pigs” (616).
“And the money will circulate among ourselves, the goods being entirely of our own growth and manufacture” (617).
“We should see an honest emulation among married women, which of them could bring the fattest child to the market” (618).
“I profess, in the sincerity of my heart, that I have not the least personal interest in endeavoring to promote this necessary work… I have no children by which I can propose to get a single penny; the youngest being nine years old, and my wide past childbearing” (619).

Analysis of Style: Now that you are familiar with Swift’s style, go back through the essay and identify other examples of Swift’s satiric style. Copy the phrase, sentence, or passage in the corresponding block. You may want to paraphrases passages that are too lengthy to copy in the space provided.

You and your partner must find at least four passages!

The use of a persona as an object of satire. / Shocking words or disturbing phrases.
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Ironic statements that point out human faults. / The use of understatement to expose acceptance of assumptions.
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