A Modest Proposal

A Modest Proposal

Satire

• Satire: the use of wit, irony, exaggeration, sarcasm, and humor to ridicule, discredit, or criticize someone or something. Satire is used to provide political or cultural commentary/critique.
• Horatian Satire: Good natured or light hearted ridicule-- think of most Saturday Night Live skits.
• Juvenalian Satire: Satire that uses dark humor and a serious or bitter tone to express anger or outrage while criticizing an institution or individual.

Free Write:

When is satire mose effective do you think? Do you think satire can be used to make meaningful change? What do you think Swift was trying to accomplish with this satirical essay? Was he successful do you think? Why or why not?

Discussion Questions:

• Why do you think Swift takes so long to build up to his proposal?

• How does Swift dehumanize the people in the essay? What group of people is he dehumanizing? What is his purpose in dehumanizing these people?
• How does Swift make himself credible? How does he make himself appear like an expert?
• Find at least one example of logos, ethos, and pathos.

• Paragraphs 21-28 list the ways people will benefit from Swift's proposal. What aspects of society is Swift critizing in these paragraphs?
• Does Swift ever state what he wants the English and Irish governments to ACTUALLY do? Where does he bring it up? Why might it come at this point in the essay?

How do satire, irony, and exaggeration help Swift accomplish what a more conventional approach to persuasion would not?

Rhetorical Analysis Practice:

Using the template provided, come up with a thesis statement as if you were going to write a rhetorical analysis of A Modest Proposal. Then, make a rough outline with evidence you would use to support your thesis. Thesis template: [Title of text]/ This [text] is [successful/unsuccessful] at accomplishing [its purpose] with [this audience] because of [strategies or context].

must be enjoyable Imagine who you're speaking to when you're on camera.