1、A Modest Proposal,Jonathan Swift,What is the political context for this proposal? What is the melancholy object, according to Swift, when people went through the country? The author provides statistical evidence for his proposal. How does he work out the number of children to be sold annually? What

2、assumption does he provide about their weight and price? How does suggest that the babies should be consumed? What does Jonathan Swift mean by “ 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

3、best title to the children.” ? (P258) Which month offers the best supply of the babies? The narrators friend has another suggestion, why does he reject it? (P259) Explain the use of irony and satire in this essay.,1. What is the social context for this proposal? Swift published A Modest Proposal in

4、1729 as a pamphlet . At that time, Ireland (not an independent country) was far poorer than England. This ruling class were usually Protestants. Many of them were not born in Ireland, nor did they live there permanently. Most Irish people were Roman Catholics and employed as labourers or tenants. Th

5、ey had been driven to extreme poverty.,2. What is the melancholy object, according to Swift, when people went through the country? In this country, there were a prodigious member of women beggars with their children because of extreme poverty.,In view of the problem that parents couldnt afford to ra

6、ise their children, Jonathan Swift presents in a very serious manner with facts and figures and very refined diction a fair, cheap and easy method of making these children sound useful members of the commonwealth.,一個謙卑的建議 以文雅的措詞和所謂經(jīng)濟學(xué)數(shù)據(jù)， 鄭重其事地 作為“一個公正、不費錢而又簡易可行的辦法”提出來， 自稱目的在于解決愛爾蘭窮人兒女過多而又無力養(yǎng)育的迫切問題。

7、What is the proposal?,and it is exactly at one year old that I propose to provide for them in such a manner as instead of being a charge upon their parents or the parish, or wanting food and raiment for the rest of their lives, they shall on the contrary contribute to the feeding, and partly to the

8、clothing, of many thousands. (P256),3. The author provides statistical evidence for his proposal. How does he work out the number of babies to sold annually? The whole population might be 1 million and a half. (150,0000) Two hundred thousand women were breeders. (20,0000) Thirty thousand couples are

9、 able to maintain their children. (-3,0000),Fifty thousand women might miscarry or whose children might die by accident or disease within the year. (-5,0000) There only remained a hunderd and twenty thousand chidren of poor paretns annually born. (12,0000) I do therefore humbly offer it to public co

10、nsideration that of the hundred and twenty thousand children already computed, twenty thousand may be reserved for breed, (-2,0000),whereof only one-fourth part to be males; which is more than we allow to sheep, black cattle or swine; and my reason is, that these children are seldom the fruits of ma

11、rriage, a circumstance not much regarded by our savages, therefore one male will be sufficient to serve four females. 現(xiàn)謹建議如下，祈請公眾垂鑒。已統(tǒng)計的十二萬名兒童，兩萬可留下傳種，其中四分之一可為男性，此數(shù)已超過牛羊豬豕之類留種的比例，理由是這類兒童大多非正式婚姻所生，粗鄙之流亦不介意此點，因此一男可配四女。,That the remaining hundred thousand may, at a year old, be offered in the sale to (

12、1,0000) the persons of quality and fortune through the kingdom; always advising the mother to let them suck plentifully in the last month, so as to render them plump and fat for a good table. 余下的十萬可在一歲時賣給國內(nèi)有地位有錢者，事前切囑母親們在最后一月喂足兒童的奶水，使其肥嫩，以備筵席之用。,What assumption does he make about their weight and pr

13、ice? I have reckoned upon a medium that a child just born will weigh 12 pounds, and in a solar year, if tolerably nursed, increaseth to 28 pounds. 我曾計算，初生兒每個平均重12磅，養(yǎng)育得當(dāng)，一年后可重28磅。 and I believe no gentlemen would repine to give ten shillings for the carcass of a good fat child,the mother will have ei

14、ght shillings net profit, and be fit for the work till she produces another child. 只要區(qū)區(qū)十先令就能換如此可口的肉孩，我相信，沒有哪位紳士會為此開銷皺皺眉頭。而做母親的每年也可以有八個先令的凈收入， 這使她能好好干活，直到再次生育。,What does he suggest about their consumption patterns? I have been assured by a very knowing American, my acquaintance in London, that a youn

15、g healthy child well nursed is at a year old a most delicious, nourishing, and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled; and I make no doubt that it will equally serve in a fricassee or a ragout. 我在倫敦認識一個見識很廣的美國人，他向我保證說： 一個奶水充足的健康兒童養(yǎng)到一歲，其肉是最鮮美，最滋補、最健康的食品，燉、煎、烤、煮都好，無疑也可做油煎肉丸和肉絲。,A ch

16、ild will make two dishes at an entertainment for friends; and when the family dines alone, the fore or hind quarter will make a reasonable dish, and seasoned with a little pepper or salt will be very good boiled on the fourth day, especially in winter. 友朋小集，一兒可作兩萊；家庭自享，則一臂一腿可各作一道好菜，若能調(diào)以少量胡椒和鹽，則存放四天后

17、煮吃仍佳，冬季尤然。,Those who are more thrifty (as I must confess the times require) may flay the carcass; the skin of which artificially dressed will make admirable gloves for ladies; and summer boots for fine gentlemen. 那些節(jié)儉一些的父母（我必須得承認此乃時勢所迫）可以剝?nèi)雰旱钠?，加工一下就會制成精致的女士手套以及男式?jīng)鲅ァ?4. What does Jonathan Swift mean

18、 by “ 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.” (P258) 誠然，此類食品不免價昂，但也因此更合地主們享用。他們既已吞食了兒童的父母，當(dāng)然也最有資格飽餐這些兒童。 This statement is a severe criticism of the brutal

19、exploitation of the Irish people by the English and Irish landlords.,5. Which month offers the best supply of the babies? There are more children born in Roman Catholic countries about nine months after Lent than any other season; therefore, reckoning a year after Lent, the markets will be glutted t

20、han usual, 在齋月之后的第九個月，羅馬天主教國家新生兒的數(shù)量比其他季節(jié)要多；因此，據(jù)此推算，齋月后的一年，供應(yīng)將比平時充足,6. The narrators friend has another suggestion, why does he reject it? (P259) The suggestion is that the lack of venison might be supplied by the bodies of young boy and girls between 12 and 14 who live under starvation. Jonathan rej

21、ected this because the flesh of the boys were lean and tough while eating the girls would be a great loss to the public because they would soon be breeders themselves.,In A Modest Proposal, Swift suggested with bitter irony, that the poverty of the Irish people should be relieved by the sale of thei

22、r children as food for the rich. With the utmost gravity, he set out statistics to show the revenue that would come if the idea were adopted. It would save the people the cost of maintaining many children; it would reduce the expensive and shameful abortions; it would reduce the number of Catholics in Ireland.,在文中，作者模仿謀臣策士的口吻，以憂國憂民的姿態(tài)，提議將愛爾蘭貧民的嬰兒賣給有錢人做菜肴, 以解決貧民人口過多的問題。 文章口氣之冷靜，考慮之周密，更顯出謀臣策士及主子們的毒辣和無情。 他在文中建議“可以把尸體剝了皮”，用來做“貴婦人們精美的手套”和“風(fēng)雅紳士們的涼鞋”。在屠宰這個問題上，他建議“不如買活的小兒去”，“隨后現(xiàn)宰現(xiàn)做，像我們烤豬那樣辦法”。后面又分析了這個建議的六大好處。 說得娓娓動聽，聽來卻令人毛骨悚然，襯托出英國殖民統(tǒng)治政策的殘酷和慘無人道。 這篇文章也成為對英