JONATHAN SWIFT BIOGRAPHY AND WORKS

 

Jonathan Swift

●      He was born on 30 November 1667 at Dublin, Ireland

●      Died on 19 October 1745, Ireland

●      He was an Anglo Irish Satirist, Essayist and Political Pamphleter ( Whig)

●      Writer of Augustan Age.

●      Nick Name- Dean Swift ( became Dean of St.Patrick Cathedral)

●      Pen Name- Issac Bickersraff, M.B.Drapier, Lamuel Gulliver, Simon Wagstaff

●      Member of Scriblerrus Group

●      His epitaph written by himself - “Here is laid the body of Jonathan Swift, Doctor of Scared Theology”.

Works of Swift -

A TALE OF A TUB-

●      1st major work written by Swift.

●      Published- 1704

●      It is a prose Parody, satire on religion

●      Published anonymously

●      Written for the universal improvement of mankind

●      Arguments on Roman Catholicism, Puritanism and Anglicanism.

GULIVER TRAVELS

●      Written - 1625, published- 1626

●      Satirical Masterpiece of Jonathan Swift

●      It was satire on human nature, human civilization and the travellers tale

●      Protagonist - Lamuel Gulliver ( 1st Surgeon then became caption of ship)

●      Four Islands :- 1- Liliput  2. Brobdingang  3. Laputa ( flying Island)   4. Houyhnhnms

●      John Gay - “It is universally read, from the cabinet council to the nursery”.

A BATTLE OF THE BOOKS

●      Published- 1704

●      Place of battle- King’s Library at St.James Place

●      Quarrel or dispute between ancient and morden authors

AN ARGUMENT AGAINST ABOLISHING CHRISTIANITY

●      Written - 1708

●      Satirical Essay to defend Christianity

A MODEST PROPOSAL

●      Published- 1729

A JOURNAL TO STELLA

●      Published Posthumously in 1766

●      Consist of 65 letters

CADENUS AND VANESSA

●      Published - 1726

DRAPIER LETTERS

●      Written- 1724-25 , Published- 1734

●      Political pamphlet , series of 7