A Modest Proposal - Jonathan Swift

• A Modest Proposal is a satirical pamphlet from the 18th century written by Jonathan Swift (Page 756)
• It is a Juvenalian satire, as is dark instead of comedic and uses the dark nature to bring emphasis to the truth and bring power to the message, the message being that the country needs to actually want to help the poor and impoverished
  • Some may dispute this fact and claim that it is Horatian(cough the person in 2nd period), but this text is in fact, super Juvenalian, as while one may perceive the text to be comical and humorous, such perception only comes after understanding the irony and true message. The text is dark and serious and this dark nature allows for it to create impact
  • A Modest Proposal mainly utilizes understatement, diction, and allusions

SOAPSTone

• Speaker - Jonathan Swift: prominent satirist
• Occasion - 18th century Ireland; Conflict between England and Ireland; Ireland full of poor people who need aid
• Audience - Ireland public and legislators
• Purpose - Convice the people that Ireland actually needs to find the motivation to do something about their poor
• Subject - Poverty and children
• Tone - Sarcastic