Jonathan Swift - "A Modest Proposal" Lesson

In this lesson we will study "A Modest Proposal," a famous example of political satire, by Jonathan Swift. He wrote this piece in 1729 during a time when the English ruled Ireland. During this time, English landowners, living in England, controlled large plots of land in Ireland and charged extremely high rent to the Irish farmers living there. The farmers had to sell nearly all of their crops in order to pay rent to the English. They were left poor and starving with little to no money. Jonathan Swift was the Dean of St. Patrick's Cathedral and anonymously composed "A Modest Proposal" as a political satire. Swift offers a solution for the oppressive poverty faced by the Irish.

Reading Assignment: "A Modest Proposal" by Jonathan Swift

Click here to read "A Modest Proposal" by Jonathan Swift. While reading "A Modest Proposal," take note of Swift's diction in regards to strong connotations, exaggeration, hyperbole, and use of understatement.

In this artistic collage, a map of Ireland, the cover of "A Modest Proposal" by Jonathan Swift, a fork and knife, and a bulb of garlic are layered to bring to mind the concepts discussed in "A Modest Proposal."

RESOURCES IN THIS MODULE ARE OPEN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES (OER) OR CREATED BY GAVS UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. SOME IMAGES USED UNDER SUBSCRIPTION.