HUM: Lesson - Jonathan Swift

Jonathan Swift

Political Satire: A Modest Proposal

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”

Please download and read Swift’s “A Modest Proposal.” Links to an external site.  

While reading "A Modest Proposal," take note of Swift's diction as it relates to strong connotations, exaggeration, hyperbole, and use of understatement.

Note the full name of Swift's essay is A Modest Proposal For Preventing the Children of Poor People From being a Burthen (Burden) to their Parents, or the Country, and For Making them Beneficial to the Publick (Public). Do you think the title is appropriate, considering the nature of satire?

Embedded and Audio Versions

Read the embedded version of A Modest Proposal here:

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