A Modest Proposal

Question 1

PAF

Answer 1

Purpose- to entertain
To create awareness surrounding child poverty and the neglect of this issue
To provoke change/ reform through the use of dark humour
Aiming to ridicule the attitudes towards the poor particularly children in Ireland 1720s

Audience-The audience were highly educated as reading was not a common privilege at this time. He hoped to provoke change as readers of this would likely be in a political position of power able to create this change if his messages communicated in a satirical pamphlet would be received

Format- A satirical essay in a pamphlet
Context
Ireland under English rule
Swift became politically involved in Irish causes specifically England’s exploitation of Ireland
Written in response to worsening conditions in Ireland and his impression of the passivity of the Irish people
Swift was a highly educated man who moved in literary circles
Sympathetic to the injustices and exploitation Ireland at the hands of its is more powerful neighbour many letters which were popular at the time
Unfortunately it did not shock or outrage contemporary readers as intended its economics was taken as an extreme joke and it’s more Incisive critiques ignored
The Stuarts had established are Protestant governing aristocrats amid the relatively poor catholic population

Question 2

Lexis

Answer 2

Semantic field of desperation “beg” “forced” “helpless”
Use of the passive voice
These mothers instead of being able to work for that honest livelihood are forced to employ all their time in strolling to beg sustenance
Passive voice of Force Illustrates a lack of control over the situation are passive role that these mothers hold they are letting this be done to them

Aspects of satire
Reversal - Horrid practice of women murdering that bastard children
Here he is taking form of a politician who wishes to demolish the practice of abortion but later suggests that the children should be murdered for food This portrays his belief in the ridiculous nature of politicians and their lack of sympathy towards the Irish citizens of whom were suffering
Parody- of butchering/farming “a child just born will weigh 12 pounds”
Modal verb of certainty “will”
Use of unrealistic statistical language- malnourished babies unlikely to weigh 12 pounds at birth - ridiculing the gross ignorance of those in power
Parody- of minister/ politician “I shall now humbly propose” future present setting out intentions in a governmental like way use of personal pronouns= jurisdiction in situation
Adverb “humbly” reinforces this persona
Incongruity- “ a young healthy child well nursed is at a year old a most delicious nourishing and wholesome food” offering horrific resolution following reasonable argument- bathos
Tripling of deeply ironic adjectives- almost promotional- has confidence in this idea falsified

Question 3

Perspective

Answer 3

Dual perspective
Voice of the author- a man of considerable concern for the “deplorable” state of Ireland under the shackles of English rule- highly compassionate with a visible disappointment with the relentless ignorance of the countries attitude towards the widespread poverty experienced.
Voice of the proposer- artificial falsified concern to ridicule the attitudes of politicians.

Voice of the author “I think it is agreed by all parties that…”
Quantifier “all” nobody is blind to the significance of the issue choosing to actively ignore it- fear of those in authority or perhaps simply ignorant.
Political lexis “parties” sustained understanding of politics - highly educated voice of swift coming through plural noun parties = a wide number of people understanding the problems - just observing no action being done
Anaphora of definite article “the” widespread nature of poverty- unavoidable standpoint of observer as in a more privileged position

Voice of proposer
“a young healthy child, well nursed, is at one years old a most delicious nourishing and wholesome food whether stewed roasted backed or boiled”
simple nature of listing- almost create the idea that cooking children would become a mundane thing o do.
ironic embedded clause “well nursed” not being well nursed due to poverty and deprivation.
plosive “baked or boiled” harsh nature of the action mirrors harsh nature of sound.

Question 4

tone