Warm Up

• What is the biggest problem affecting our society today?

• What do you suggest could be a solution?

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• 1. What does this passage tell you about conditions in Ireland?

Reading Strategy p567

• 1. What does this passage tell you about conditions in Ireland

Conditions in Ireland are so terrible that anyone who can improve them deserves to be commemorated.

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• 2. What characteristics does the speaker display in this paragraph?

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• 2. What characteristics does the speaker display in this paragraph?

The speaker is civic minded, rational and practical. His use of statistical anylysis implies he is logical, well educated, and knowledgeable about scientific inquiry.

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3. What details in this paragraph suggest that poverty is an urgent problem?

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4. What details in this paragraph suggest that poverty is an urgent problem?

Details about abortions and infanticide suggest that mothers are destroying their offspring because they cannot support them.

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4. What does the term breeders suggest?

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4. What does the term breeders suggest?The term breeders suggest that these woman

are like domesticated animals (think cows and sheep etc.)

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• 5. What does the speaker imply about his American acquaintance?

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• 5. What does the speaker imply about his American acquaintance?

The speaker implies that his American acquaintance is an experienced cannibal.

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8. What examples of irony do you see in this paragraph?

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8. What examples of irony do you see in this paragraph?

One who would buy a child for food is a “gentleman.” Adopting the speaker’s idea would improve the popularity of landlords.

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9. What is ironic about the speaker’s saying that he is against cruel plans?

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9. What is ironic about the speaker’s saying that he is against cruel plans?

It is ironic that the speaker says this after proposing such a cruel plan of his own.

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11. How does the language contribute to the irony of this paragraph?

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11. How does the language contribute to the irony of this paragraph?

The conditions referred to are treated as advantageous. The is no reason to be concerned that they will be an unbearable burden. Poor housing, starvation, and terrible sanitation are killing them…

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13. Whom does the speaker identify as the cause of Ireland’s misery?

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13. Whom does the speaker identify as the cause of Ireland’s misery?

The English landlords are the cause of Ireland’s misery. They have forced their tenants to sell their corn and cattle to pay the rent.

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14. How does Jonathan Swift (author) suggest that the speaker’s plan is ridiculous?

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14. How does Jonathan Swift (author) suggest that the speaker’s plan is ridiculous?

It is ridiculous to suppose that a mother would treat her children better if she knew she could sell them for a profit.

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15. Why does the speaker identify “weddings” and “christenings” as particularly appropriate occasions for eating children?

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15. Why does the speaker identify “weddings” and “christenings” as particularly appropriate occasions for eating children?

He is being ironic. Weddings unite people whom plan on having children. Christenings are a celebration of a child’s introduction to the church.

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16. Why does the speaker include these “other expedients”?

He really favors these other expedients , which are practical solutions to the problem of poverty in Ireland.

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16. To which country does the speaker allude?

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17. To which country does the speaker allude?

He is alluding to England.