"A Modest Proposal"

Kintija Belska "A Modest Proposal" 'Satire is when someone is making fun about something but in all of that is hiding some serious issue. In satire sarcastic words are used to help show the reader ideas about problems and try to solve them. Sarcastic words are used in satire to build readers attention, and make issues interesting. This form of writing invites reader to read the proposal till the and think about the issue which is presented. Satire can be powerful if the writer uses it correctly. If a writer uses sarcastic words incorrectly the reader could understand it like a bad joke or even think that writer is mad. Satire can shock people because it often presents foolish ideas. Jonathan Swift in 1729 presents "A Modest Proposal" for preventing poor people in Ireland, from being a burden on their parents or country, and for making them beneficial to the public. The word 'modest' imply that the writer thinks that his ideas are modest behavior, and are not anything special, just a simple and easy solution. The meaning of the word 'proposal' is that he offers a solution, which we could use in future to prevent something. He is offering his plan and ideas. 'A Modest Proposal' gives a reader an idea about some simple plan or solution to a serious issue. Swift write satire because he is bitterly critical of poor people being

  • Word count: 922
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift How does Swift attempt to make his readers aware of the problems in Ireland with his pamphlet? To what extent do you think he succeeds?

GCSE coursework 'A Modest Proposal' by Jonathan Swift How does Swift attempt to make his readers aware of the problems in Ireland with his pamphlet? To what extent do you think he succeeds? Satire; a mode of writing that exposes the failings of individuals, institutions, or societies to ridicule and scorn. The modest proposal was considered one of the finest pieces of satire in world literature and was published as a pamphlet in 1729 in Ireland aimed at mainly the middle/ upper class of Ireland. The reasons for Swift's outlandish and shocking pamphlet were to argue that the problem of poverty in Ireland can be best remedied by selling the babies of the less fortunate as food for the wealthy. He put forward his ideas in a pamphlet as this was a common method to publish an argument or in the public treatise arena. There was an issue of too many Protestants becoming quarrelsome over the Irish religious issues and something had to be done to resolve the complaints. This is where Swift's proposal came into action as it addressed the issue and played on people's prejudices and stereotypes of the Catholics and the Irish being inhumane savages. The proposal can be perceived as barbaric, cannibalistic and outrageous whereas some will see the logic behind it and how it will actually work. In the whole pamphlet he uses irony constantly to show satire and to horrify the public but

  • Word count: 2288
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Gulliver's Travels is a fine example of a satire in that there is bite in Swifts attacks on human behaviour and yet there is much to entertain and amuse, Discuss

"Gulliver's Travels is a fine example of a satire in that there is bite in Swifts attacks on human behaviour and yet there is much to entertain and amuse, Discuss" Tom Caulfield Gulliver's Travels is a book which uses satire, to attack the politics of its time. Swift operates on two levels; on one level he tells an enjoyable fantasy story for all ages. On the second level behind the superficial narrative he comments upon the issues he faces in the reality of England and makes criticisms. The story is set on an island called Lilliput, it is inhabited by little people and it is this which Swift uses as a base for his views on the world around him. Lilliput is a mirror image of London in 1726, and it acts as a blank canvas for Swifts thoughts on reality. It allows him to create anything, so he manages to create different ways of criticising London. The way Swift produces these criticisms of his world is by transferring the moral into a comical or humorous issue. Swift does this many times, but he is also using to his advantage as an author. As he is putting across his views he is also pleasing both his younger audience and older by covering up the criticisms of the books times with an exhilarating fantasy story. An example of his humorous technique is when the inhabitants of Liliput are shown to select their politicians by seeing who is superior on a

  • Word count: 1132
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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What are the Objects of Swift's Satire in 'Gulliver's Travels' in the 'Voyages to Lilliput' and 'Brobdingnag', and How Does he Satirise Them?

What are the Objects of Swift's Satire in 'Gulliver's Travels' in the 'Voyages to Lilliput' and 'Brobdingnag', and How Does he Satirise Them? Jonathan Swift was a popular 18th century author who was a strong satirist of many aspects of 18th century English culture. He was very good at using literature, such as 'Gulliver's Travels' and 'A Modest Proposal' to point out and satirise feelings he had about, what he considered, 'problems' of the society in his time. Originally Swift had written "Gulliver's Travels" so he could explain and demonstrate his disgust of British society, although in the modern day it is a popular children's novel. Throughout 'Gulliver's Travels' he very subtly shows his disgust of English culture using the different voyages in 'Gulliver's Travels'. In particular he focuses his satire on travelogues of his time, politics, legal terms, religion and the church, women and the human physical body. Travelogues were a very popular style of writing in the 18th century. Swift felt that travelogues were over used and written in a pedantic way. He felt the way in which many authors wrote travelogues made themselves sound a lot better, perhaps more heroic, than they really were. They would be written in first person, and more often than not be filled with dramatic events, for example 'I did this, then I did this after'. It's ironic then that Swift chose to write

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Discuss the similarities and differences in themes and ideas as shown in a modest proposal and stone cold.

Discuss the similarities and differences in themes and ideas as shown in a modest proposal and stone cold In this essay I will compare two books, one 20th century novel and the other a pre 20th century novel. The two books: Stone Cold written by Robert Swindells in 1983 in form of a thriller and the other A Modest Proposal written by Jonathan Swift in 1729 in form of a pseudo economical pamphlet. There are significant differences between both though the recipients are the government. Swindells wrote his thriller because he had experienced living rough in the North of London for a ghastly three days. He wrote his thriller in 1993 which indicates that the story was written after he had experienced the three days. Swindells was touched by the horrific conditions of day to day life that people were living in so he decided to do something about this. He quoted "I am dedicated to the idea that they are all responsible for one another and that we ought to conduct ourselves accordingly, doing no harm to anyone. My work reflects this belief." This clearly reflects the belief Swindells had after writing his book. The experiences he had were so horrendous that any human would not be able to survive them. Swindells was angry because the Conservative government of the time did not seem to care about the homeless. One MP complained saying that it's terrible having to step over homeless

  • Word count: 1555
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Gulliver's Travels. The saga of Lilliput is more fun and entertaining than that of Brobdingnag. Discuss.

'The saga of Lilliput is more fun and entertaining than that of Brobdingnag.' Discuss. Gulliver's Travels is a classic example of eighteenth century satire, one of Swift's greatest works in an outcry against the values and practices of his time. While his words ruthlessly attack numerous aspects of human society and human character, by the nature of satire his weapon is humour. So there is plenty of amusement to be had through the course of the book, most notably in the first two adventures, in Lilliput and Brobdingnag. On Gulliver's first adventure to Lilliput, he awakes on the island to find himself bound and tied to the ground by the six-inch tall Lilliputians. After being stung with arrows and stabbed with spears, he decides to obey, and then help the 'Most Mighty Emperor of Lilliput' and his country. So we see the foremost target of Swift's humour and satire, that surrounding Gulliver himself, as Richard Rodino said, 'Gulliver...is a satirical device enabling Swift to score satirical points.' In Lilliput he subjects to the Emperor's imprisonment and his wishes, some strange, such as when 'he desired I would stand like a Colossus', 'draw up the troops in close order, and march them under me'. Some others were simply humiliating, however, such as when, upon receiving his decree of liberty, he swears to it 'with great cheerfulness and content', despite the fact that he

  • Word count: 1557
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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'Gulliver's Travels', written by Jonathan Swift - a satire on British society

It is a common belief that 'Gulliver's Travels', written by Jonathan Swift in the 1720's, is a satirical text written on the cultural practises of the British society of that time. Gulliver's Travels", is a text that follows the travels of the main character Gulliver, through four different fantasylands. In the first voyage, he is shipwrecked on Lilliput, a small land, whose inhabitants are on average less than six inches high. Lilliput, in conjunction with the three other lands, all portray elements of the British society in the 1720's. In his text, Swift uses satire to criticise and ridicule certain elements of British society. Satire, which is a use of mock or exaggerated humour to slyly ridicule faults etc, adds a general tone of sarcasm to the text. In "A Voyage to Lilliput", Swift uses satire to slyly and humorously criticise British society, the same society that he wrote the text for, so that it may see its own faults. Three particularly notable social/cultural practises in this land were the trivialities of war, ingratitude of humanity, and the arbitrary ways of the government. Gulliver's Travels is said to be a satirical text focusing on the cultural practises of the British society of that time. It firstly satirizes the trivialities of war. Swift achieves this in the voyage to Lilliput, by showing that both the British and Lilliputian wars were fought for

  • Word count: 892
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Cannibalism is the last taboo. In ‘Alive’ and ‘A Modest Proposal’ Jonathan Swift and Piers Paul Read approach the subject with completely different purposes in mind. What do you consider to be the purpose of each author, and say how he

Cannibalism is the last taboo. In 'Alive' and 'A Modest Proposal' Jonathan Swift and Piers Paul Read approach the subject with completely different purposes in mind. What do you consider to be the purpose of each author, and say how he achieves this? A Modest Proposal is a scathing attack on the economic oppression of the Irish by the English. During Swift's lifetime tremendous suffering was caused by English practices in Ireland. However, it is incorrect to say that cannibalism is the theme of 'A Modest Proposal.' Swift was a Protestant writer in Ireland at the time of The Great Potato Famine. The article is a clever satirical device to draw attention to the plight of the poor. He infiltrates the opposition, the rich Protestant landlords, in order to put their torturous ideas to ridicule. Swift attacks his own Protestant, English community by creating a narrator who considers himself a reasonable and compassionate character, but one who combines a repulsive anti-Catholic bigotry, with a 'modest' proposal, that is, rather, a 'final solution': he, the narrator, advocates cannibalism as a means of countering Irish Catholic poverty abortion, and the high birth rate. The narrator, in a frighteningly rational and level-headed tone condemns the English for being inhumane, the Irish for being passive, the speaker for being morally blind, and the reader for accepting intolerable

  • Word count: 2221
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Swift's Satire on Women in "Gulliver's Travels"

Swift's Satire on Women in "Gulliver's Travels" Attacks on the fashionable vogues and vices of fop, fool, and coquette are common in social satires of different epochs. And as fashion and social trivialities are particularly associated with the world of women, women frequently became a fruitful subject of this kind of satire. In the Augustan Age Swift along with Addison, Pope and Gray satirized social vanity and affectation with emphasis on the weaknesses of women. But, Swift, in directing his satirical edge against/towards women, is more severe and moral condemnation is a distinctive feature of it. Swift's strong and unusual attachment to morality pursued him to treat women in his satire with much severity and it would be a mistake if we look upon him as misogynistic/ a misogynist. Swift does not lose the slightest opportunity in launching his satirical butt upon women. In Book-I, in Gulliver's short account of Lilliputian manner of writing, there comes a touch of satire upon English ladies when he says that the Lilliputians write in a peculiar manner "aslant from one corner of the paper to the other, like ladies in England." And in Book-II, when the Brobdingnagian farmer shows Gulliver to his wife, she, upon seeing such a diminutive creature as it appears to the giants, screams "as women in England do at the sight of a toad or a spider." Swift satirizes the ugliness

  • Word count: 970
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Gulliver’s Travels by Joseph Zere.

Gulliver's Travels by Joseph Zere My first example of satire is in Lilliput when Gulliver was invited to a entertainment feast. But when Gulliver arrives at the feast, he gradually discovers that its not only an entertainment feast, but it is an job applicants who will dance on the tight rope. Who ever dance the highest on the tight rope will get a very good job. This is absurd because to get a good pay job, you need to have qualifications, familiarity and the experience to do the job. I know of all this, because in page 32 it says 'when a great office is vacant by either dead or disgrace, 5 or 6 candidates petition the emperor to entertain his majesty and the court with a dance on the rope, and whoever jumps the highest without falling succeeds in the office'. This is not fair, because you need to be educated, not be a good dancer. So Jonathan Swift is translating it based to London, he is trying to put out that you don't need merit to get a well-paid job; you could get it for daft reasons. Like if you had friends in power, through favouritism, so getting a job wasn't based on merit, it was based on silly, childish ways. In fact people at the time (18th century) were incompetent people and didn't know how to their jobs, especially in politics. Jobs were allocated on the ground of tradition and family. Luckily and rightfully civil exams came in, and it was a big change, but

  • Word count: 2155
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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