Satire Unit: A Modest Proposal

Who wrote A Modest Proposal?

• Franz Kafka

• Jonathan Swift

• Bell Hooks

• Ralph Ellison

• Jane Austen

The main point of satire is to...

• Give a free pass for people to be offensive

• Test the boundaries of comedy

• Address historical and political policies

• Point out societal ills or mock a public figure through irony and humor

• Complain about public and federal policies

Which of the following is NOT a form of satire?

• Juvenalian

• Menippean

• Stoicism

• Horatian

Define Juvenalian satire

• Mocks social and personal ills through characters and allegory

• A form of humor that is characterized by slow set ups and dry punchlines

• A form of comedy that relies on physical humor such as the character getting hurt

• A harsh social commentary using dark humor and a mocking tone

• A form of satire that pokes fun at everyday issues or a larger figure in a light-hearted manner

Which of these is NOT a characteristic of Horatian satire?

• Lighthearted humor

• A dark and grim outlook on the world

• Playful jabs at celebrities and politicians

• Quick wit and observational humor

When was A Modern Proposal written?

• 1845

• 1510

• 1688

• 1372

• 1720

Which of these was NOT an issue the writer was critiquing?

• Apathy towards the poor

• The dehumanization of the Irish by the aristocracy

• The mistreatment of the Irish and Catholics by the English

• Women's suffrage in Ireland

• Massive wealth inequality

Who/what would NOT be a prime target worthy of satire?

• Poor people who complain about medical bills

• Societal apathy towards the environment

• Politicians. Just politicians.

• Boomers hanging on to their cushy social programs

• Celebrity culture and problematic "cancel" culture

Which of these is an example of Menippean satire?

• The novel Pride & Prejudice - which critiques Regency era upper class through one family

• The hit TV show The Office showcasing observational humor of the American work culture

• The early 2000s film Idiocracy which attacks the structure of the world and the "dumbing down" of society

• All the above

• None of the above

The writer's "modest proposal" was to...

• Make Irish babies "useful" to the English by being a food source

• Have the aristocracy create their own country

• Bargain with the Anglican Church of England to split Ireland

• Go back to the times of ancient Greece by reinstating the Vestal Virgins

• Give more power to the already rich landlords