Vocabulary
What does deference mean?
courteous respect
Where do you find the claim for Swift's argument?
Paragraph 4
Which type of logical fallacy is the following?
The narrator assumes children are "marketable commodities."
Faulty Premise
In paragraph two, when Swift states that the "present deplorable state of the kingdom" is a problem that needs to be solved, he is using which rhetorical appeal?
Kairos
What is Swift’s explicit message?
The message is that to help the poor, they should have the poor people sell their children at one year old as "meat".
What does censure mean?
to strongly disapprove; to condemn
Who is the target audience for Swift's satirical argument?
The wealthy class and the government of Ireland
Which type of logical fallacy is the following?
The narrator claims the only choices are his plan or total starvation.
False Dilemma
When Swift calmly calculates the number of poor people they need to come up with a solution for, he is using what rhetorical appeal?
Logos
What is Swift’s implicit message?
The government and wealthy people of Ireland need to stop being jerks and help the poor people.
When Swift writes that he has "too long digressed, and therefore shall return to [his] subject," what does he mean that he has done?
He moved away from his main purpose in writing and discussed other things
Give an example of a concession from Swift's satirical argument.
Answer could vary; it could be where he addresses the idea of eating children at an older age or where someone pointed out that his plan does not address the poor people "who are aged, diseased, or maimed."
Which type of logical fallacy is the following?
The narrator creates a metaphor between the Irish poor and livestock.
Faulty Analogy
What rhetorical appeal does the following quote use?
"I profess, in the sincerity of my heart, that I have not the least personal interest in endeavoring to promote this necessary work, having no other motive than the public good of my country, ..."
Ethos
Give one example of understatement from the text
Answers vary: Could be the title or where Swift writes, “I shall now therefore humbly propose my own thoughts, which I hope will not be liable to the least objection."
When Swift writes that he believes that "no gentleman would repine to give ten shillings for the carcass of a good fat child," what does he mean?
No gentleman would complain about paying that price
Give an example of a rebuttal from Swift's satirical argument.
Answers vary: Students should respond with the reasons Swift claims eating older children is unacceptable or why he is not worried about the old, diseased, or maimed people. They could also mention how he said not to mention other 'expedients' till they can assure him they will be used.
Which type of logical fallacy is the following?
The narrator bases his entire "nutritional" argument on the word of an acquaintance—a "very knowing American"—who assures him that a year-old child is "a most delicious, nourishing, and wholesome food".
Faulty Premise
Give an example of hyperbole from the text
Answers vary: could be about using baby skin for clothes (gross), or could be about relating people to animals
Swift writes that his proposal would be a great inducement to marriage. What does inducement mean?
An incentive or motive
Swift enumerates several benefits or advantages of his plan. What are they? (Must have at least four!)
Look at page 537 1. It would greatly lessen the number of Papists (Roman Catholics) 2. It would give the poorer tenants something valuable to pay their debts 3. In increases the nation's stock 4. The poor people will profit 8 shillings from each sale and be free of the cost of maintaining their children afterward....
Which type of logical fallacy is the following?
Near the end, the narrator challenges politicians to ask poor parents if they wouldn't have preferred to be sold for food at a year old rather than endure a "perpetual scene of misfortunes".
False Dilemma
Give an example of sarcasm from the text
Answers vary: "I grant this food will be somewhat dear, and therefore very proper for landlords, who, as they have already devoured most of the parents, seem to have the best title to the children," or "I can think of no one objection, that will possibly be raised against this proposal.."