“A Modest Proposal” Eating babies? Is this really how to stop starvation? In 1729, Dr. Jonathan Swift had his essay published tiled “A Modest ProposalZin the essay, he talks about how Ireland was a poor place at the time, He did not want any more poverty in Ireland, So he came up with a solution that some people might find to be a little absurd. Through the use of sarcasm, reversal and irony, ‘Swift talks about how harsh society can be in order to survive in a place full of poverty and despair. On the essay, Swift uses a lot of sarcasm in order to make the essay as humorous as " Josible Inthe beginning, Swift describes how Ireland was like, He uses the word ‘iis great town” (Swift 1) to describe a city in Ireland, The sarcastic quote he used is the complete opposite of what the city was like/Afer that, Swift gives some background on how life was like in Ireland, There was a mass amount of poverty and beggars on the streets, Swift mentions about a mother and “het lawful occupation of begging” (24). This shows that people were being congratulated for being” Swift later then als about his proposal on ending starvation. After that, he says “I can think of no one objection” (Swift 187). His sarcasm leaves him thinking that everyone will ike the idea of his proposal. The uses of describing the eity, the life in Ireland, and his pride of the proposal has shown sareasm in the essay. Besides sarcasm, Swift used another device in his satire essay. ped aloetion aninord Rn‘Swift also uses reversal in his essay to show even more humor. He talks about the wives in Ireland, He includes the quote “whose wives are breeders” (Swift 34-35). This quote uses reversal to show that instead of animals breeding, humans are breeding in ireland Later in the essay, Swift talks about the way the proposal will be carried out. To eat babies, they must be sold first. Swift says that people are “to give ten shillings for the carcass of a good fat child” (88-89). This idea is reversed because animals are supposed to be sold at markets, not children. Also, ‘Swift mentions how to cook the babies. He suggests an idea, “I rather recommend buying the children alive and dressing them hot from the knife, as we do roasting pigs” (Swift 99-100). This idea is clearly reversed because children ae the ones being roasted instead of pigs. Wives being breeders, children being sold, and roasting kids are all reversed ideas of what people normally see. Other than reversal, there is one more device Swift used in his essay. Swift used some irony in order to help out his satire essay. In the essay, Swift talks about the lives of the children in Ireland, He says that “they can seldom pick up a livelihood by stealing” (Swift 44-45). This can be seen as pretty ironic due to the fact that children are out in the city stealing things to survive instead of being in schol. Swift also mentions abou the good things the proposal will bring. For example, he talks about how “it would inerease the care and tenderness of mothers towards their children” (Swift 167-168). This also shows irony because Y the mothers can’t care for their children if the moms sell them at markets. Talking about children stealing and mothers caring for their kids are examples Swift used to convey irony. Dr. Jonathan Swift used the ways of sarcasm, reversal and irony in order to discuss how to survive in a place where poverty is plentiful. He made some interesting points in a way to get his message across, Swift used sarcasm to make fun of the people on the streets begging. Reversal was used to show how the roles between humans and animals could change. Swift also‘Swift also uses reversal in his essay to show even more humor. He talks about the wives in Ireland, He includes the quote “whose wives are breeders” (Swift 34-35). This quote uses reversal to show that instead of animals breeding, humans are breeding in ireland Later in the essay, Swift talks about the way the proposal will be carried out. To eat babies, they must be sold first. Swift says that people are “to give ten shillings for the carcass of a good fat child” (88-89). This idea is reversed because animals are supposed to be sold at markets, not children. Also, ‘Swift mentions how to cook the babies. He suggests an idea, “I rather recommend buying the children alive and dressing them hot from the knife, as we do roasting pigs” (Swift 99-100). This idea is clearly reversed because children ae the ones being roasted instead of pigs. Wives being breeders, children being sold, and roasting kids are all reversed ideas of what people normally see. Other than reversal, there is one more device Swift used in his essay. Swift used some irony in order to help out his satire essay. In the essay, Swift talks about the lives of the children in Ireland, He says that “they can seldom pick up a livelihood by stealing” (Swift 44-45). This can be seen as pretty ironic due to the fact that children are out in the city stealing things to survive instead of being in schol. Swift also mentions abou the good things the proposal will bring. For example, he talks about how “it would inerease the care and tenderness of mothers towards their children” (Swift 167-168). This also shows irony because Y the mothers can’t care for their children if the moms sell them at markets. Talking about children stealing and mothers caring for their kids are examples Swift used to convey irony. Dr. Jonathan Swift used the ways of sarcasm, reversal and irony in order to discuss how to survive in a place where poverty is plentiful. He made some interesting points in a way to get his message across, Swift used sarcasm to make fun of the people on the streets begging. Reversal was used to show how the roles between humans and animals could change. Swift alsoLiterary Essay Rubric criteria Excaeds Expectations ‘Adequately Achieves Expectations ‘Approaching Adequacy Inadequate Fluency ‘The essay Includes at least five, well-developed paragraphs. The sentences are easy to follow and help to make the essay ‘understandable. The essay Includes five paragraphs, but they are not well-developed or the language is choppy. The essay does not include five paragraphs or the choppiness of the language distracts from the meaning The essay isnot five paragraphs and is unclear ‘and unrelatable. Development ‘The essay includes a alm and at least 3 reasons that closely connect the claim and the evidence, itincludes specific, well-chosen evidence from the text that supports that claim. Allthe interpretation rakes sense and clearly supports the lain. The essay includes a relatively clear claim and logical reasons. Most pieces of evidence support the claim. Most of the interpretation makes sense and supports the claim. “The essay lacks a clear claim or the reasons do not seem to connect the claim and the evidence. Some pleces of evidence support the claim, Some of the interpretation does not make sense or does not support the claim, ‘The essay lacks 2 clear claim or the reasons do ‘not seem to connect the claim and the evidence, It lacks evidence or does not support the claim at ll. ‘The interpretation does not make sense and does not suppor the claim. organization Required for Intro Paragraph -tead Author & Tite Background information = Thes'sthat includes 3 satire devices and that answers the “0 what” question Required for Body Paragraphs ~Topie Sentence = Sexarples per each sate device Evidence: summary, paraphrase, and quotes ~ Explain the connection foreach = Transitional sentence Required for Conclusion Paragraph = Thesis restated ~ Summarize the main points A statement regarding relevance today ‘The essay includes body paragraphs in the most appropriate order to support the claim and reasons. The transitions between examples and paragraphs make for smooth reading. ‘The essay indudes paragraphs and is organized in a reasonable order to ‘support the lal and reasons. Some ‘transitions are evident ‘that make the essay easier to read, The essay does not Include organized body paragraphs ina particular order to provide lear support for the claim and reasons. The transitions between examples and between paragraphs are choppy ‘or missing and may distract from the meaning. The essay is disorganized, ltmay be missing indented paragraphs. It may be missing an Introduction and/or a conelusion, aiting/Correctness ‘Name ‘The essay is essentially ‘error free. There Isa sense of careful elting. ‘Appropriate MLA format for iterary essay is used No redundancy. 4 me The essay includes ‘occasional errors. Some sense of editing obvious. Some errorsin MLA formatting a literary essay are present. Some redundancy might be present. ‘The essay includes ‘multiple errors, itle or no sense of editing is present. Rules for MLA formating a literary essay are not followed, Multiple redundancies may be present. ‘The essay includes many cerrorsin spelling, capitalization, and punctuation that often Interfere with mesning Not MUA formatting.