jonathan-swifts-a-modest-proposal-b30-2

1. Students read along to an audio narration of the story “A Modest Proposal“, which suggests people in Ireland during famine and depression eat their children and use their skin for leather to suppy for their families. Obviously, the students were a little concerned about the sanity of the author! (Click the link above to read the article or listen to the file above.)
2. The following questions were given as an Exit Slip assignment and students had to complete them before leaving at the end of class.

1) What is the author’s purpose for writing this? (To entertain, persuade, analyze, criticize, educate, explain, etc)
2) What evidence is there to prove your response?
3) On the second last page, first paragraph, the author lists several criticisms. List them and explain where you think they come from.
4) Is the story more ridiculous than the idea of people being told to exist by their own means when it is clear no one can? Explain.
5) This is obviously a satire – the author is commenting with criticism what he sees in his society:
     a) Explain the benefit of satires.
     b) What can be gained from reading them?
     c) Give three examples to prove this is a satire.
6) How does this story fit into the unit of Individuals, Groups and Responsibility.