Jonathan Swift (1667-1745)

Jonathan Swift was born on November 30, 1667 in Dublin (Ireland) in an English family. His father died seven months before Jonathan's birth leaving his family in poverty. Jonathan was brought up by his rich uncle Godwin Swift who sent him to school and then to Trinity College in Dublin. There he studied theology and later became a parson. His favourite subjects, however, were not the­ology but literature, history and languages. At 21 Swift went to live in England and became private secretary of a distant relative, Sir William Temple, writer and a well-known diplomat of the time.

In 1692 Jonathan took his Master of Arts Degree at Oxford University. With the help of Sir William, Swift got the place of vicar in a small church in Ireland where he stayed for a year and a half.

Then he came back to England and lived there till Sir William's death in 1698.

In 1713 Jonathan Swift was sent to Dublin as Dean of St Patrick's Cathedral. Living in Dublin Swift took an active part in the struggle of the Irish people for their rights and interests, against poverty and English oppression. In fact he became the ideological leader of the Irish people. At the age of 78 he died and was buried in the Cathedral, the Dean of which he was most of his life.

Swift's literary work was always connected with his political activity. He wrote numerous political pamphlets, which had a great influence on the readers. But the best work of the talented man is his novel “Gulliver's Travels”. It is one of the books most loved by children because it tells of the adventures of Lemuel Gulliver in four strange countries. But the author did not mean to write a book to amuse children. It was a satire to the evils of the society he lived in. Swift criticized the reality using allegorical pictures, hyperbole, grotesque, and irony.

Swift's art had a great influence on the further development of English and European literature.

Ex.5 Look through the text again and translate the following words and word-combinations:

Development, have a great influence, amuse, talented man, connected with, vicar, oppression, private secretary, satire.

Ex.6 Find in the text the English equivalents for the following:

Оставив свою семью в нищете; в двадцать один год; личный секретарь; дальний родственник; получил степень Магистра искусств; в течение полутора лет; он принимал активное участие в борьбе...; дальнейшее развитие литературы.

Ex.7 Correct the statements if necessary:

1. Jonathan Swift was born on November 30, 1667 in Dublin (Ireland) in an Irish family. 2. Jonathan was brought up by his rich aunt. 3. In Dublin he studied theology and later became a teacher. 4. In 1713 Jonathan Swift was sent to Dublin as Dean of St Patrick's Cathedral. 5. Swift's literary work was never connected with his political activity.

Ex.8 Give questions to which the following sentences are the answers:

1. At 21 Swift went to live in England. 2. In 1692 Jonathan took his Master of Arts Degree at Oxford University. 3. He became the ideological leader of the Irish people. 4. He wrote numerous political pamphlets. 5. The author did not mean to write a book to amuse children.

Ex.9 Use the text to enlarge the given statements:

1. Jonathan Swift was born … . 2. He was sent to … . 3. At 21 Swift went … . 4. With the help of Sir William, Swift … . 5. At the age of 78 … . 6. It was a satire …

Ex.10 Answer the following questions:

1. Where was Jonathan Swift born?

2. Who brought up Jonathan?

3. What did he study at college?

4. When did he go to England?

5. How long did stay in Ireland?

6. With what was Swift's literary work connected?

7. What is the book most loved by children?

Ex.11 Reorder the items of the plan according to the logic of the text. Describe item 5 of the plan in detail. 1. Swift's literary work was always connected with his political activity.

2. Jonathan was brought up by his rich uncle Godwin Swift.

3. Swift criticized the reality using allegorical pictures, hyperbole, grotesque, and irony.

4. At 21 Swift went to live in England and became private secretary of a distant relative.

5. With the help of Sir William, Swift got the place of vicar in a small church.

Ex.12 Give a written summary of the text in 5-7 sentences.