Two Satirical Essays

Paper Summary:

Jonathan Swift's "Prediction for the Year 1708" & "The Accomplishment of the First of Mr. Bickerstaff's Predictions" in which he caustically satirizes an Almanac-Maker & astrology. Swift's purpose to expose sin & folly. Reasons Swift targeted almanac-makers & astrologers including exploitation of gullible people. Discusses Swift's satirical methods such as incongruity, mockery, exaggeration.

From the Paper:

In Predictions for the year 1708 and The Accomplishment of the First of Mr. Bickerstaff s Predictions, Jonathan Swift lashed out at Partridge, the Almanac-Maker, and astrology in general. By using a variety of satirical techniques, such as incongruity, sarcasm and exaggeration, Swift captured the deception of almanac-makers who pretended to make accurate predictions of the forthcoming year in their annual publications. The satire works even more successfully because of its realism: Swift imitated the writing style of a rival maker of Partridge (Mayhew 278). Furthermore, Swift literally stabbed at the heart of astrology by predicting the death of Partridge and then consolidated his death in the subsequent piece, Accomplishment, in a deliberate attempt to play a joke on him (Mayhew 276-278).

More papers on Two Satirical Essays:

• Book Review # 91521 : "Satire in "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn"
• Analytical Essay # 62058 : "Voltaire, Moliere and Satire"
• Analytical Essay # 140059 : "Swift, Orwell and Language"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: