1. A Modest Proposal By Jonathan Swift

2. About the Author • Swift was born in Ireland in 1667, Catholic • Lived and worked between Ireland and England • Was known for his works of satire • Also famous for “Gulliver’s Travels”

3. Background • 1720s: Starvation was widespread in Ireland -Irish harvests were poor for years -Farmers couldn’t pay rent demanded by their English landlords -Beggars and children filled the streets -England’s policies kept the poor poor

4. Background: How’d the English Get Into Ireland? • In 1541, the government of Ireland recognized Henry VIII (Protestant English King) as the King of Ireland (Catholic) • By 1703, England owned all but 10% of the land in Ireland • Laws severely limited the rights of the Irish to hold government office, purchase real estate, get an education, and advance themselves in other ways. • As a result, many Irish fled to foreign lands, including America. Most of those who remained in Ireland lived in poverty, facing disease, starvation, and prejudice.

5. Purpose of the Proposal • To make England more sympathetic to Ireland’s suffering • He exposes this by using satire and ironyto show England how ridiculous they’re being • The craziness of the proposal mimics the craziness of England’s attitude twd. Ireland

6. Satire • theuseof irony, sarcasm, ridicule, etc., in exposing the wrongs of society. irony: theuseofwords to conveyameaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning (EX: “How nice!” when I said I had to work all weekend.) dramatic irony: irony that’s understood by the audience but not the characters *verbal irony: when a person says one thing but means another (used in A Modest Proposal)

7. Vocab • Modest (adj): humble; free from vanity or ego • Burden (n): something bad you have to deal with • Importune (v): to beg persistently and urgently • Sustenance (n): the act of sustaining life through food or money • Native (adj): refers to someone who was born in a place (we’re native to PA)

8. Prodigious (adj): extremely big • Deplorable (adj): very poor condition • Grievance (n): a complaint against a person or organization • Raiment (n): very expensive and decorative clothing • Savage (adj): an uncivilized person • Renowned (adj): widely known and liked

9. Commodity (n): something that can be bought or sold • Render (v): cause to become • Eminent (adj): prominent • Repine (v): to express unhappiness • Deference (an): courteous regard for others’ feelings • Scrupulous (adj): extremely careful and picky

10. Censure (v): to yell at • Parsimony (n): extreme stinginess • Propagation (v): producing children or animals • Contrive (v): to work out a plan • Prudent (adj): smart and sensible • Vintner (n): a wine seller

11. Some Themes • Prejudice By England’s Protestants twd Ireland’s Catholics • Unfair Treatment of the Poor Landlords get fatter while the poor die of starvation • Laziness Swift is calling people to action to help the Irish