Literary Techniques Used by Jonathan Swift - 535 Words

Writing Benchmark There are many ways an author of a book, novel, poem, or any literary work tries to connect to his or her audience. An author experiments with different literary techniques and ideas which he or she best believes is sufficient in getting his or her perspective across to the audience. One famous work called A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift is often considered the ideal example of a literary style called satire. In this work, Swift delivers his perspective and thoughts on the Irish in the 1700s that were living in poverty due to a nationwide famine in Ireland. Jonathan Swift’s main purpose was to mock the cruel and disappointing treatment of the impoverished Irish in the 1700s and he uses elements of satire to convince readers of his perspective. Jonathan Swift relies heavily on verbal irony to express his perspective on the treatment of the Irish by the ruling English. Using verbal irony, Swift wrote the opposite of what he actually meant. Throughout the st ory, he writes in the perspective of an Englishmen which opposed the Irish when in reality, he was writing in favor of the Irish and their poor conditions. For example, Swift stated that a positive effect from having his cannibalistic â€Å"solution† would be that the number of papists, or Catholics would decrease. Swift wrote in the perspective of the English, who were Protestant and hated the Irish Catholics and treated them harshly for being so. This revealed his true perspective as he mocks theShow MoreRelatedJohn Swift1632 Words   |  7 PagesChristian 1213.1915 04/12/13 Jonathan Swift’s Writing Style According to critics, Jonathan Swift’s writing style has three characteristics, which are mockery, details and panegyric writing. Harold Weber explains, â€Å"Swift’s verse technique and the way in which he achieves his poetic effects, the disagreement over the value of Swift’s varied satiric masks† (448). Weber defines Swift’s use of mockery as a satiric mask recurring in as self-amusement in his literary works. Thomas Gilmore speaks ofRead MoreSatire In Gullivers Travels1455 Words   |  6 Pagestheir works. One of these elements that writers use is called â€Å"satire.† This element is used to make fun of something that the author disapproves of in a comical but hidden way. Widely considered as one of the greatest satirists to ever live, Jonathan Swift used satire in his works to express his disgust in society and the British Monarchy during the 18th century. One of the greatest satires ever written by Swift was Gulliver’s Trav els. In Gulliver’s Travels, satire is evident through Gulliver’sRead MoreLiterary Analysis : Jonathan Swift1425 Words   |  6 PagesMary Ellen Griffith Freshman Comp. II Oct. 27, 2015 Literary analysis The author I decided to write about is Jonathan Swift for he had a keen sense for effective sarcasm. As Jonathan Swift said â€Å"The proper words in the proper places are the true definition of style.† Though he was known in different ways, he was mostly popularized through his gift in writing, particularly his satire, or his use of humor and irony, essays. Through out swift life, there has been plenty of events where I believeRead MoreEffective Persuasive Techniques Used By John Donne s `` The Flea ``1480 Words   |  6 PagesEffective Argument Techniques Effective argumentative and persuasive techniques are a course of reasoning aimed at validating or falsifying the truth in an argument. With an in-depth analysis of literature, the perplex intentions of a writer that use such techniques can be revealed. Methods such as logical fallacies, rhetorical devices, and satirical devices are three approaches that construct a piece of work on a more compelling level. Behind these elements of writing, there are a multitude of purposesRead MoreSatire of a Modest Proposal Essay1331 Words   |  6 Pagesis a beautiful technique exercised to convey a message or call a certain group of people to action. This rhetorical skill is artfully used by Jonathan Swift in his pamphlet â€Å"A Modest Proposal.† The main argument for this mordantly ironic essay is to capture the attention of a disconnected and indifferent audience. Swift makes his point by stringing together a dreadfully twisted set of morally untenable positions in order to cast blame and aspersions on his intended audience. Jonathan Swift’s â€Å"A ModestRead MoreHoratian and Juvenalian Satire1884 Words   |  8 PagesHoratian and Juvenalian Satire Satire has many definitions, but according to Merriam Webster satire can be defined as â€Å"A literary work holding up human vices and follies to ridicule or scorn† (Webster). This definition is likely used by many authors who exercise the application of satire. Satire has been in literature since ancient times; it is derived from the Latin satura, meaning dish of mixed fruits, (Weisgerber). Many satirists have shared a common aim: to expose foolishness in all its guisesRead MoreSatire in Tartuffe and Modest Proposal1560 Words   |  7 Pagesand behaviors. Various techniques are used in order to deliver a satirist effect, those of which house wit as their main weapon. These methods harmonize the mastering of coexisting trivial and serious matters as one sarcasm, showing praise but meaning the contrary to demonstrate irony, and asking questions rhetorically. Additionally, the author might understate an issue in order to maneuver the audience towards the true importance of th e topic, adversely; exaggeration is used to lower the impact ofRead MoreJonathan Swift s A Modest Proposal1809 Words   |  8 PagesJonathan Swift’s A Modest Proposal is a satirical essay that sardonically uses an outrageous solution to the massive poverty in Ireland. He proposes this lengthy idea of eating children as the solution to the society’s problems. His serious yet hyperbolic and satirical style allows Swift an approach to get people engaged in the difficulties the Irish had to do to survive their everyday life. This essay explores Swift’s ability to use literary devices and how these techniques advance his idea aboutRead MoreSatire Essay1434 Words   |  6 PagesSatire is a great tool used by many writers and actors since ancient times. The earliest example that we know about is a script from 2nd millennium BC in Ancient Egypt (Definition: Satire) and since then has evolved into a great part of our society. Satire is used to point out the faults of human vice in order for change and reform in either of two ways. There is a very bitter Juvenalian or a mild and light Horatian. In order to fully understand these forms of satire, method, purpose, and applicationsRead MoreMedia Project1616 Words   |  7 PagesArt as Technique 1. Defamiliarization is stripping objects or subjects from their individual or â€Å"familiar† characteristics and giving them unusual or â€Å"unfamiliar† traits to allow the reader to see it in a whole new perspective. An example of this is in Tolstoys defamiliarization of spanking, explaining the act as â€Å"to strip people who have broken the law, to hurl them to the floor, and to rap on their bottoms with switches.† The crude description removes the disciplinary context it had and