A Modest Proposal

A Modest Proposal

Reading selection of Swift’s A Modest Proposal. It is essential to recognize the genre of this work, which you should consult and cite. Swift promotes a radical solution, but subtle options are mentioned. You are looking for surprise and a point of realization. Read and focus on A Modest Proposal located at http://www.victorianweb.org/previctorian/swift/modest.html. The focus is on brief but important primary source material written by major authors. Read the selections as identified with each topic below. Write a three to four (3-4) paragraph essay (250 words minimum) which analyzes the “surprise ending” of the reading selection. For the reading selection you choose:

  1. Clearly state in your own words the “surprise ending” in the reading you selected. Clearly identify the point in the reading when you realized that there were elements in the reading that surprised you. Not all of the surprises come at the end.
  2. Evaluate how successful the author was in convincing you to accept the validity of the “surprise ending” that was different from what you expected.

Answer Preview

In the modest proposal by Swift, he describes the living conditions of women and their children, begging for alms instead of them working for an honest living. Their children become thieves as they grow for the need of work other than being of help to the society. Women beg for food for the young ones, and they become of no help to the community, both mothers and children cannot get employed on the farms or even build homes…

(318 Words)

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