Vocabulary Worksheet for A Modest Proposal



Vocabulary & Terms for A Modest Proposal

|Word |**ASSIGNMENT** |Define |Synonyms |

| |Highlight vocab words in Text | | |

|Animosities |Of quitting our animosities and factions |plural of animosity; a feeling of strong dislike, ill will, or enmity that tends to |hostility, opposition, antagonism, hatred |

| | |display itself in action | |

|Deference |But with due deference to so excellent a friend |respectful or courteous regard |esteem, regard, honor |

|Deplorable |… is in the present |causing or being a subject for regret or disapproval |distressing, lamentable, pitiful, sad, |

| |deplorable state of the kingdom | |sorry |

|Despondent |persons of a desponding spirit are in great concern|feeling or showing profound hopelessness, dejection, discouragement, or gloom |disheartened, downhearted, melancholy, |

| | | |blue. |

|Eminent |an eminent French physician |high in station, rank, or repute; prominent, distinguished |celebrated, renowned, illustrious, |

| | | |outstanding |

|Enumerate |Many other advantages might be enumerated |to mention separately as if in counting; name one by one; specify, as in a list |relate, recite, reveal, proclaim, number |

|Expedient |that this expedient was put into his head |a means to an end |Device, instrument |

|Importuning |Importuning every passenger for alms |to beg for (something) urgently or persistently |beseeching, entreating, soliciting. |

| | | |pleading |

|Modest |A Modest Proposal |having regard for decencies of behavior, speech, dress, etc. |pure, virtuous, simple |

|Prodigious |this prodigious number of children in the arms |extraordinary in size, amount, extent, degree, force, etc. |enormous, immense, huge, gigantic, |

| | | |tremendous |

|Propagation |the propagation of swine's flesh |multiplication or increase, as by natural reproduction |Breeding, proliferation, reproduction |

|Rudiment |they learn the rudiments |the elements or first principles of a subject |Fundamentals, basics, |

|Scrupulous |some scrupulous people might be apt to censure such|having scruples; having or showing a strict regard for what one considers right; |conscientious, cautious, careful |

| |a practice |principled. | |

|Sustenance |To beg sustenance for their helpless infants |means of sustaining life; nourishment |food, livelihood, provision |

Literary Terms:

Satire: A literary technique used to ridicule ideas, customs, behaviors, or institutions for the purpose of improving society. Satire uses exaggeration to force readers to see something in a more critical light. Example: Saturday Night Live

Diminution: Reduces the size of something in order that it may be made to appear ridiculous or in order to be examined closely and have its faults seen close up; Example: “beggars” and then “breeders” are used instead of parents.

Exaggeration: To enlarge, increase, or represent something beyond normal bounds so that it becomes ridiculous and its faults can be seen. Example: Time is the best teacher; unfortunately, it kills all of its students

Parody : To imitate the techniques and/or style of some person, place, or thing. Example: Scary Movie, Austin Powers, Young Frankenstein

Verbal Irony: occurs when what is said is not exactly what is meant. Example: when someone says “Nice day, isn’t it?” during a rainstorm

Sarcasm: mocking, contemptuous, or ironic language intended to convey scorn or insult. Example: If I throw a stick, will you leave?

Black humor: comedy mingled with horror or a sense of the morbid. Examples: Raising Arizona, Bad Santa, Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

Elements of Classical Argument:

I. PROBLEM: A clearly-defined problem

II. SOLUTION: A proposal to solve the problem

III. ARGUMENT: A convincing argument supported by facts, examples, and opinions of recognized authorities

IV. REBUTTAL: Recognition of opposing viewpoints - anticipating objections and

allaying fears of the opposition

V. ADVANTAGES: Comparison of proposed solution to alternatives

VI. TONE: A self-controlled tone - rational, specific, avoiding exaggerations, never

quarrelsome or antagonistic

**ASSIGNMENT** A Modest Proposal follows the structure of a classical argument. As you read find the elements listed above in the text of the essay.

Make notations in the margins

1. to identify the elements

2. to identify appeals to

ethos (authority or justice)

pathos (appeal to emotion)

logos (appeal to logic)

3. to identify use of statistics

**ASSIGNMENT** In the chart below describe the problems, solution, and its benefits the persona in “A Modest Proposal” associates with each group listed.

|Babies |

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|Children Ages 1-12 |

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|Elderly, Maimed, Ill |

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