Partner-Pair Analysis Questions for Jonathan Swift’s 1729 Pamphlet “A Modest Proposal”

Objectives:

Collaborate to analyze the effect of Swift’s satirical writing style and organizational persuasive structure.

Directions:

  • You and a partner will need to submit one document with your responses to these questions toturnitin.combefore the end of class today. One document with the names of both contributors should be submitted—you don’t both need to submit your response.
  • You do not need to cite your work with Swift, but if you use any other sources cite them in text and provide an attached works cited list to prevent plagiarism.
  • Your responses should be in complete ideas, and—as always—you must analyze quoted evidence from the text to prove what you’re saying is true.
  1. Using your introductory lecture notes, briefly describe thehistoricalsocio-economic, religious, and political catalysts for “A Modest Proposal.”
  2. Analyze at least two pieces of evidence that show Swift’s writing style and how it is is appropriate for this audience.
  3. Style is the way in which something is written, as opposed to the meaning of what is written. Style includes diction, sentence fluency, and tone and influences the reader’s impression of the information.
  4. What does Swift say is the problem, “the melancholy object,” plaguing Ireland that is the catalyst for this essay? Use brief pieces of quoted evidence in your response.
  5. Where in this essay does Swift present an anti-American bias? Why would that be an effective persuasive strategy for his audience?
  6. Analyze the effect of individual words in Swift’s diction as he presents his satirical solution: “I grant this food will be somewhat dear, and therefore very proper for landlords, who, as they have already devoured most of the parents, seem to have the best title to the children.”
  7. Swift gives many satirical reasons for his solution: find an analyze a quote for each of these
  8. Historical precedent
  9. Statistical evidence of economic advantage
  10. Personal benefits the Irish poor
  11. What lines are the most satirically powerful to you? Analyze two quotes that use irony, or another satirical tool, to great effect.
  12. What objections to his plan does Swift refute?
  13. What benefits will Swift’s satirical plan confer on Ireland?
  14. Analyze the effect of Swift’s conclusion disclaimer.