Answers Recovery Content Language Arts 9 - Quarter 2 - 202627Rhetorical Devices and Figurative Language in a Speech

Satire in Swift's "A Modest Proposal" Answers

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How does the title, "A Modest Proposal," tell the reader that the piece is satirical?

The author’s proposal is gentle and acceptable, just as the title indicates.

The title shows that the author does not understand the truth about his proposal.

The author’s proposal is actually extreme and violent, not gentle as the title says.

The title shows that the author believes people will accept and understand his proposal.

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Read the excerpt from "A Modest Proposal."A very worthy person, a true lover of his country, and whose virtues I highly esteem, was lately pleased, in discoursing on this matter, to offer a refinement upon my scheme. He said, that many gentlemen of this kingdom, having of late destroyed their deer, he conceived that the want of venison might be well supply'd by the bodies of young lads and maidens, not exceeding fourteen years of age, nor under twelve; so great a number of both sexes in every country being now ready to starve for want of work and service.

Swift uses a false premise when he says that people of the kingdom are in “want of venison.”

Swift uses irony when he says “so great a number of both sexes” are in desperate need of “work and service.”

Swift uses irony when he says the person with whom he discussed his plan is “very worthy” and “a true lover of this country.”

Swift uses a false premise when he says the “gentlemen of the kingdom” have “destroyed their deer.”

Read the excerpt from "A Modest Proposal."Thus the squire will learn to be a good landlord, and grow popular among his tenants, the mother will have eight shillings neat profit, and be fit for work till she produces another child.

that a woman would be willing to pay her landlord rent

that a woman would be willing to breed children to sell

that a woman would be willing to keep the children she bears

that a woman would be willing to take over her landlord’s business

Which sentence from "A Modest Proposal" is the best example of satire?

Some persons of a desponding spirit are in great concern about that vast number of poor people, who are aged, diseased, or maimed.

Thus the squire will learn to be a good landlord, and grow popular among his tenants, the mother will have eight shillings neat profit, and be fit for work till she produces another child.

I have reckoned upon a medium, that a child just born will weigh 12 pounds, and in a solar year, if tolerably nursed, encreaseth to 28 pounds.

It is a melancholy object to those, who walk through this great town, or travel in the country, when they see the streets, the roads and cabbin-doors crowded with beggars of the female sex, followed by three, four, or six children.

Read the excerpt from "A Modest Proposal."This I freely own, and 'twas indeed one principal design in offering it to the world. I desire the reader will observe, that I calculate my remedy for this one individual Kingdom of Ireland, and for no other that ever was, is, or, I think, ever can be upon Earth. Therefore let no man talk to me of other expedients: Of taxing our absentees at five shillings a pound: Of using neither cloaths, nor houshold furniture, except what is of our own growth and manufacture: Of utterly rejecting the materials and instruments that promote foreign luxury . . .

to show that his plan to sell children is the most reasonable plan that has been put forth

to show that society is already asking too much of wealthy individuals

to show that real reform is possible with reasonable sacrifice

to show that there are many other people who are trying to bring about reform

"a contradiction between what is said and what is really meant""the use of humor to emphasize the negative qualities of society""a description of something as being smaller or less than it really is""the use of an incorrect assumption that forms the basis of an argument"

"a contradiction between what is said and what is really meant"

"the use of humor to emphasize the negative qualities of society"

"a description of something as being smaller or less than it really is"

"the use of an incorrect assumption that forms the basis of an argument"

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Satire in Swift's "A Modest Proposal" Answers

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