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| − | [[Image:Jonathan_swift.jpg|thumb|Portrait of Jonathan Swift]]'''Jonathan Swift''' (1667-1745) was an [[England|English]] satirical writer. Born in [[Dublin]] to English parents, he moved to England in 1688 to become secretary to Sir William Temple. He took Anglican holy orders but did not obtain promotion. | + | [[Image:Jonathan_swift.jpg|thumb|Portrait of Jonathan Swift]]'''Jonathan Swift''' (1667-1745) was an [[England|English]] satirical writer. Born in [[Dublin]] to English parents, he moved to [[England]] in 1688 to become secretary to Sir William Temple. He took [[Anglican]] holy orders but did not obtain promotion. |
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| | His ''Tale of the Tub'' and ''The Battle of the Books'' were both published in 1704. At first he was interested in [[Whigs|Whig]] politics but he became a [[Tory]] in 1710 and proceeded to write powerful tracts such as ''Conduct of the Allies'' (1711). In 1714 he returned to [[Ireland]] as Dean of St. Patrick's and was followed by his devoted female friends Hester Johnson (the Stella of his ''Journal'') and Esther Vanhomrigh (the Vanessa of his poetry). | | His ''Tale of the Tub'' and ''The Battle of the Books'' were both published in 1704. At first he was interested in [[Whigs|Whig]] politics but he became a [[Tory]] in 1710 and proceeded to write powerful tracts such as ''Conduct of the Allies'' (1711). In 1714 he returned to [[Ireland]] as Dean of St. Patrick's and was followed by his devoted female friends Hester Johnson (the Stella of his ''Journal'') and Esther Vanhomrigh (the Vanessa of his poetry). |
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| | In Dublin he wrote some of his best and most famous works, including ''[[Gulliver's Travels]]'' (1726), ''[[A Modest Proposal]]'' (1729) and the ''Drapier's Letters'' (1724-5). Authorship of his works is sometimes assigned to his professional title of '''Dean Swift'''. | | In Dublin he wrote some of his best and most famous works, including ''[[Gulliver's Travels]]'' (1726), ''[[A Modest Proposal]]'' (1729) and the ''Drapier's Letters'' (1724-5). Authorship of his works is sometimes assigned to his professional title of '''Dean Swift'''. |
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| | + | == Example == |
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| | + | A famous poem by Jonathan Swift: |
| | + | {{cquote|Beasts find out where their talents lie; |
| | + | <br>A bear will not attempt to fly. |
| | + | <br>The foundered horse will oft debate, |
| | + | <br>Before he tries a five-barred gate |
| | + | <br>The dog by instinct turns aside, |
| | + | <br>Who sees the ditch too deep and wide. |
| | + | <br>But Man we find the only creature, |
| | + | <br>Who led by folly, fights with Nature. |
| | + | <br>Who, when She loudly cries "forbear" |
| | + | <br>With obstinacy fixes there, and |
| | + | <br>Where his instincts least incline, |
| | + | <br>Absurdly sets his whole design.}} |
| | ==External links== | | ==External links== |
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