Satire Lessons: Engaging Ideas for Teaching "A Modest Proposal"

Satire has long been the go-to vehicle for criticism and mockery. Whether it’s a scathing report on a political event or a good-natured parody, satire is all around us – in TV, movies, print. One of the most famous works of satire is Jonathan Swift’s “A Modest Proposal”, with its blend of dark humor and sarcasm with sharp social criticism. Whether you’re new to teaching “A Modest Proposal” or just looking to revamp your lessons, I’ve got you covered. Watch their faces go from “huh?” to “wait, WHAT?!?!” in about .2 seconds.

"A Modest Proposal" Summary

A little context for “A Modest Proposal.” It was written in 1729 to address the increase in poverty in Ireland. Swift’s solution? Impoverished Irish families sell their babies as food to the wealthy.

While shocking, Swift obviously isn’t condoning cannibalism. Instead, he’s criticizing:

Britain’s exploitation of Ireland
the upper class’s indifference towards the poor
the mindset of economy above all
dehumanization of marginalized groups

Swift’s critiques are meant to bring attention to the plight of the Irish poor and criticize the one group with the power to do something about it.

Introducing Satire

When teaching A Modest Proposal, you can approach it in two different ways:

tell students upfront that it’s satire – review satire and have students read it through that lens
don’t tell students it’s satire – and see how long it takes them to figure it out

If you teach Honors or AP students, I’d go with option 2. If, like me, you teach struggling students – option 1.

Modern Satire

Most students are familiar with the general premise of satire, so I don’t spend a ton of time frontloading it. Begin with a basic review of satire and some of its primary techniques – irony, exaggeration, reversal, parody, incongruity, and understatement.

I like to provide students with guided notes and several examples from media they’re already familiar with, such as Saturday Night Live skits or Weird Al songs. The Onion is a great source for print examples.

Editorial Cartoons

Another great place to find examples of satire is editorial cartoons. These are perfect because they rely on exaggeration, use symbolism (hello, literary analysis), and typically critique current events. Some places to find editorial cartoons include:

I like to provide students with a bunch of different cartoons and have them work in groups to analyze a set number (think jigsaw activity). You could also post a series of cartoons around your room for a gallery walk. Either way, teaching satire through editorial cartoons is a low-stakes way to get students identifying satirical techniques and messages.

Teaching "A Modest Proposal"

Reading Questions

Once students have a decent grasp on satire and satirical techniques, it’s time to get to the meat of the unit – teaching “A Modest Proposal”. The tone and diction are very formal and logical, which makes it that much more disturbing.

However, it was written 200+ years ago, so there’s about a 98% chance you’ll hear “Is this even English?!?” at least once. To combat this, include periodic breaks to discuss and summarize, and embed comprehension and analysis questions to help students focus on smaller chunks of texts.

Another idea is to include “satire signals” throughout your discussions and questions – specific prompts that require students to focus on a certain satirical technique or idea. Some examples include:

What assumptions about the poor does Swift seem to accept in the opening paragraphs?
Why might Swift want to establish trust with his readers before revealing his plan?

Satire as Social Commentary

At its core, satire is a means of social commentary, as evidenced in the editorial cartoons from the beginning of the unit as well as “A Modest Proposal” itself. Have students complete a “Satire as Social Commentary Scavenger Hunt.” Give students a list of satirical techniques and have them find examples from both Swift’s essay and modern life. This allows students to make those all-important connections we always talk about, and lets them demonstrate their understanding of the techniques in an easy and low-stakes way.

Bringing "A Modest Proposal" to Life

Once you’ve read and analyzed Swift’s essay, it’s time to turn it over to the students. Have them channel their inner Swift as they create a modern day “Modest Proposal”. This is always my favorite part of teaching “A Modest Proposal”.

In a nutshell, here’s how it works:

Have students identify a current issue (school lunch quality, climate change, inflation, social media addiction, fast fashion – really, the options are pretty much endless).
Identify a clear satirical target (like the upper class in Swift’s essay – who would have the power/ability to address the issue?)
Come up with an exaggerated solution – BUT present it with a serious, logical tone.
Incorporate some satirical techniques

Students can create a poster, an editorial cartoon, a short skit – whatever options you want to give them. The goal? Sit back and watch students demonstrate their knowledge and creativity (and probably get in a few good laughs too). Bonus? It’s way more engaging than a traditional essay.

Why Teach "A Modest Proposal"

Sure, it’s 200+ years old, and its language may elicit more than a few groans. BUT. Satire is such a powerful means of communication. Through it, students realize that their writing can be bold (and maybe a little outlandish); that criticism is necessary and doesn’t have to be polite; that human and literature can be powerful. Plus, Swift’s essentially an 18th-century troll – which students love.

So there you have it. My tips for teaching “A Modest Proposal”. Want to save time with a done-for-you resource? Check out this A Modest Proposal Satire Study Lesson Plan. Introduce satire, read and analyze “A Modest Proposal”, and let student creativity shine.

Do you have any go-to lessons for teaching satire? Hit “Reply” and let me know.