What rhetorical techniques does Swift use to satirize war in the first few paragraphs of Chapter 5?
Does Swift do a good job of getting you to reevaluate the appearance of your own species through Gulliver's description of the Yahoos? Do you think this is his intention? Or does he seem to have some other goal in mind?
Is Swift’s satire so outrageous that his message is lost, or do the reasons supporting his proposal effectively illustrate the seriousness of the problems he is addressing?
The 18th century is often called the Age of Reason because advances in science and technology fueled belief that governments could apply rational thought to solve many social problems. Swift, a traditionalist, was often skeptical of new ideas. In what ways does “A Modest Proposal” reflect this attitude?
Evaluate the figurative language used by Pope to characterize Belinda. Focus on one or two specific examples. How effective are these figures of speech as a technique for developing character? What do you learn -- if anything -- about Belinda from these figures of speech?
How does Pope use the conventions of the epic to produce a comic effect?
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