Modest Proposal

Swift's proposal takes into account only the children of beggars.

• True

• False

Swift says that children born to poor parents in Ireland could become useful, wage-earning citizens if they were well-fed.

• True

• False

The proposal recommends that the majority of children would be saved for breeding purposes.

• True

• False

Swift points out that one advantage of the proposal would be in increase in marriages.

• True

• False

Swift recommends against exporting the new commodity.

• True

• False

The purpose of "A Modest Proposal" is to satirize

• English policy in Ireland

• Tenants who don't pay rent

• Irish bankers

• Overpopulation concerns

What large-scale societal problem does Swift plan to resolve?

• Spreading religion to Ireland

• Uplifting the English poor

• Overpopulation of Ireland

• Mistreatment of Irish poor

What does Swift mean when he says, "The English landlords have already devoured most of the Irish parents"?

• Cannibalism has been part of English culture

• Landlords will eat tenants who cannot pay rent

• Landlords have financially devoured their Irish tenants

• Irish parents will not sell their children

The persona claims to have no personal motive behind his proposal because

• he is English and could not benefit from his proposal

• he lives in the country and doesn't own a farm

• his wife is past childbearing age

• his is not a landlord and doesn't wish to be rich

Does Swift expect his readers to consider his proposal seriously? Why?

• No; he is trying to raise awareness about an issue

• No; he is trying to help the Irish win a war against England

• Yes; he is trying to create a new part of the meat industry

• Yes; he is trying to help the English win a war against Ireland