The Age of ReasonThe Age of Reason“A Modest “A Modest Proposal”Proposal”

Jonathan SwiftJonathan Swift

J.L. Ilsley High SchoolJ.L. Ilsley High School

English 12English 12

Eras and AgesEras and Ages

The Age of ReasonThe Age of Reason

AKA “The AKA “The Enlightenment”Enlightenment”

Lasted from the mid-Lasted from the mid-1600s until 17891600s until 1789

Scientific discoveriesScientific discoveries MathMath RULES, LAWSRULES, LAWS

The LiteratureThe Literature Non-fiction was KingNon-fiction was King Encyclopaedias, Encyclopaedias,

dictionaries, dictionaries, scientific journals, scientific journals, travelogues, travelogues, biographies, etcbiographies, etc

In poetry, there In poetry, there were VERY strict were VERY strict rules of rhyme and rules of rhyme and rhythmrhythm

In fiction, SATIRE In fiction, SATIRE was popularwas popular

SatireSatireCopy this definition of Copy this definition of satire:satire:

Using ridicule, sarcasm or Using ridicule, sarcasm or irony to draw attention to irony to draw attention to social issuessocial issues

““A Modest Proposal”A Modest Proposal”

Jonathan Swift lived Jonathan Swift lived in Ireland in the in Ireland in the early 1700searly 1700s

He noticed that He noticed that Catholics tended to Catholics tended to be very poor and be very poor and have a LOT of have a LOT of childrenchildren

He circulated a He circulated a pamphlet in which pamphlet in which he offered a he offered a solutionsolution

In the beginning…In the beginning…

Swift laments all of Swift laments all of the beggars on the the beggars on the streets of Dublinstreets of Dublin

Children are a Children are a burden to their burden to their parents, and they parents, and they are expensiveare expensive

Is there any way Is there any way they could be of they could be of benefit?benefit?

Let’s Read our Let’s Read our Excerpt!Excerpt!

In the end…In the end…

Swift shot down Swift shot down reasonable solutions, reasonable solutions, like making landlords like making landlords responsible and responsible and taxing the richtaxing the rich

Some Dubliners Some Dubliners thought the pamphlet thought the pamphlet was REAL, and was REAL, and wondered when wondered when they’d see babies the they’d see babies the butcher’s window! butcher’s window!

Works CitedWorks Cited

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/10609/10609-h/el028.png

http://art-bin.com/art/omodest.htmlhttp://art-bin.com/art/omodest.html http://johnandsheena.co.uk/books/http://johnandsheena.co.uk/books/

images/modestproposal.jpgimages/modestproposal.jpg http://http://

frontiereditor.files.wordpress.com/frontiereditor.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/jon-swiftie.jpg2008/03/jon-swiftie.jpg

http://cms.baens-universe.com/http://cms.baens-universe.com/upload/assets3.1/upload/assets3.1/modestproposal1.jpgmodestproposal1.jpg