Problem
A Modest Proposal Jonathan Swift
a) What are the proposals in Swift's essay?
b) How would you characterize Swift's overall tone in the essay?
c) What means does Swift use to develop his tone?
d) Who does Swift criticize in this piece? Do you believe he successfully satirized his subjects?
e) What changes do you believe he hopes to bring about with this essay?
The Nose Nikolai Gogol
a) Briefly, what happens to Kovalyov? How is this an example of surrealism in literature? (Look back on the "Before reading page" for a definition).
b) What is unusual about the first few pages of "The Nose" (Other than the nose?)
c) What is the narrator's tone? How is this tone developed?
d) Does Kovalyov learn a lesson from his experience? Is he better or worse off for having gone through it? How do you know?
e) Who or what is Gogol satirizing in this story? Do you believe he was successful?