A Modest Proposal Essay
Research Report on Jonathan Swift’s “A Modest Proposal ”
Emma Perry
Paris District High School
October 24th 2011
*ABTRACT*
1. Introduction
A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift was written in 1729 using diction and political and social references from that time period, which may provide a challenge for a student reader in a 2011 classroom. The full title of Swift’s essay is “A Modest Proposal for Preventing the Children of Poor People from Being a Burden to their Parents, or the Country, and for making them Beneficial to the Publick.” This satirical essay is attempting to find a simple method for converting the starving children of Ireland into useful members of society.
1.1 Background Information
Through irony, satire …show more content…
What differentiated this essay from others, and made it superior to most was Swifts successful use of Historical Content, direct connection with the Audience, Satire/Humour, perfectly executed Irony, and the use of Logos vs. Pathos vs. Ethos.
2. Historical Content
2.1 English-Irish Political relationships
Years before A Modest Proposal was written British groups began invading Ireland for need of land for there growing kingdom, and had established there own laws and created their own parliament in Ireland. Penal Laws were created specifically designed to reduce the Catholics as the dominant religion in Ireland, laws like Catholics banned from public office or parliament, and Catholics banned from intermarriage with Protestants.
In 1714 the Georgian Era begins when George I took the throne of the United Kingdom (so called when England swallowed Scotland in 1702, which Swift refers to “QUOTE”). He continues to strengthen the parliament and in 1720, the British parliament passed the Sixth of George I Act allowing it to pass legislation in Ireland without the agreement of the Irish parliament.
2.2 Protestant – Catholic religious
Emma Perry
Paris District High School
October 24th 2011
*ABTRACT*
1. Introduction
A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift was written in 1729 using diction and political and social references from that time period, which may provide a challenge for a student reader in a 2011 classroom. The full title of Swift’s essay is “A Modest Proposal for Preventing the Children of Poor People from Being a Burden to their Parents, or the Country, and for making them Beneficial to the Publick.” This satirical essay is attempting to find a simple method for converting the starving children of Ireland into useful members of society.
1.1 Background Information
Through irony, satire …show more content…
What differentiated this essay from others, and made it superior to most was Swifts successful use of Historical Content, direct connection with the Audience, Satire/Humour, perfectly executed Irony, and the use of Logos vs. Pathos vs. Ethos.
2. Historical Content
2.1 English-Irish Political relationships
Years before A Modest Proposal was written British groups began invading Ireland for need of land for there growing kingdom, and had established there own laws and created their own parliament in Ireland. Penal Laws were created specifically designed to reduce the Catholics as the dominant religion in Ireland, laws like Catholics banned from public office or parliament, and Catholics banned from intermarriage with Protestants.
In 1714 the Georgian Era begins when George I took the throne of the United Kingdom (so called when England swallowed Scotland in 1702, which Swift refers to “QUOTE”). He continues to strengthen the parliament and in 1720, the British parliament passed the Sixth of George I Act allowing it to pass legislation in Ireland without the agreement of the Irish parliament.
2.2 Protestant – Catholic religious