Satire in Swift's "A Modest Proposal"

Question 1

Which statement best describes Swift’s use of rhetorical devices in this passage?

Revolt · Accepted Answer

C: Swift uses verbal irony when he calls his friend a “patriot”; a true patriot would not suggest using Ireland’s children for food.

Question 2

What false premise does Swift rely on to build his argument in this passage?

Revolt · Accepted Answer

B: The wealthy will be willing to buy and consume children.

Question 3

Whom is Swift criticizing in this passage?

Revolt · Accepted Answer

A: wealthy people who exploit the poor

Question 4

How does Swift use satire in this passage to criticize society?

Revolt · Accepted Answer

D: He implies that the English care so little for the Irish people that they will not object to using Irish children for food.

Question 5

Whom or what is Swift criticizing in his satire, and what techniques does he use to make his point? Write a two- to three-sentence response, using examples from the text to support your answer.

Revolt · Accepted Answer

Swift is criticizing the English government and the wealthy for creating poverty in Ireland. He uses verbal irony when he proposes that eating children is the way to resolve the growing problem of impoverished children. By developing this idea and implying that the English will not mind if the Irish use children for food, Swift suggests that the English government is callous and cruel.

Question 6

What did you include in your answer? Check all that apply.

Revolt · Accepted Answer

A: Swift is criticizing England and the wealthy.; B: Swift is criticizing the treatment of the poor.; C: Swift uses rhetorical devices such as verbal irony and understatement.; D: Swift uses false premises to make his arguments.

Satire in Swift's "A Modest Proposal" Answers

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