Jonathan Swift

Raffaele Nardella

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A brilliant satirist (1667 – 1745)• Born in Dublin• Moved to England• Work for Sir William Temple• Best satirical works:

– The Battle of the Books– A Tale of a Tub

• Anglican priest in Ireland• In London friendship with Pope• Writings for Tory• Back to Ireland Dean of St. Patrick’s Cathedral• Pamphlets against sufferings of Irish

– A Proposal for the Universal Use of Irish Manufacture– The Drapier’s Letter

Raffaele Nardella

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Temple_(British_politician)

An Irish hero

National Hero Ireland as a place of exileGulliver’s Travels (1726)A Modest Proposal (1729)

– Irony and bitterness– Against English rule– Against Irish passive attitude– Mocking the projector

Decay of Swift’s mental faculties

Raffaele Nardella

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A controversial writerLabelled as

– a misanthrope– morbid attitude– monster– lover of mankind

Concerned with politics and societyConservative attitudeNo optimism of his ageIrony, Satire and Parody

Raffaele Nardella

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