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30 November 1667 - 19 October 1745. Dublin. Author, Dean and satirist. | |||
== Childhood and Education == | |||
Jonathan Swift was born in Dublin in 1667 as the son of Jonathan Swift, the elder, an Englishman who left England and went to Ireland after the [[Restoration]], and his wife Abigail. His childhood was a bit different from that of other children. The father had died in spring-time 1667, about half a year before Jonathan, the younger, was born. So his mother Abigail had to turn to the brothers of Jonathan, the elder, for help in bringing up Jonathan, the younger, and his sister. Even though the Swift family was in such a situation it took care of Jonathan's education. From 1673 to 1681 he went to Kilkenny Grammar School, which was at that time seen as the best Irish school available. Later (1682-1686) he studied classics at Trinity College in Dublin. In 1692 he went to Oxford to achieve the Master of Arts as a precondition for a career in the church. | |||
' | == Career == | ||
Working as a secretary first and later in ecclesiastical positions, Jonathan Swift was throughout his life deeply interested in literary writing. His first poems he is known to have written as early as 1691 and only one year later in 1692 his first work "Ode to the Athenian Society" was published. Apart from literature Swift showed also an immense interest in politics, first supporting the [[Whigs]], later when his ideas and beliefs did no longer conform which their principles he changed sides and allied with the [[Tories]]. In this political context Swift is today especially known for writing "The Drapier's Letters" in 1724 and "A Modest Proposal" taking the side of Ireland against the English government, often in a very satirical manner. In his time, however, Swift's authorship of the letters was not officially known, although the government put up the reward of 300 pounds to find him, Swift stayed anonymous. | |||
== Works == | |||
* 1692 "Ode to the Athenian Society" | |||
* 1696-99 ''A Tale of a Tub'' | |||
* 1701 "A Discourse of the Contests and Dissensions Between the Nobles and Commons in Athens and Rome" | |||
* 1726 ''[[Gulliver's Travels]]'' | |||
== Last years == | |||
There are rumours that in his last years Swift developed a bad temper. Sometimes this is attributed to Meniere's disease, which he had in his youth. Some time in the 1730s or early 1740s Swift had a stroke, which led in 1742 with the argument that he could no longer care for himself to his incapacitation. Swift died in 1745 and is buried in St. Patrick's Cathedral. | There are rumours that in his last years Swift developed a bad temper. Sometimes this is attributed to Meniere's disease, which he had in his youth. Some time in the 1730s or early 1740s Swift had a stroke, which led in 1742 with the argument that he could no longer care for himself to his incapacitation. Swift died in 1745 and is buried in St. Patrick's Cathedral. | ||
== References == | |||
* Biography.com Editors. "Jonathan Swift Biography." ''The Biography.com website'', A&E Television Networks, last updated 8 Dec 2014, https://www.biography.com/people/jonathan-swift-9500342. Accessed 7 Dec 2009. | |||
* Real, Hermann J./ Vienken, Heinz J. Jonathan Swift: ''Gulliver's Travels''. München: Wilhelm Fink Verlag, 1984. | |||
* Swift, Jonathan. ''Gulliver's Travels''. Ed. Claude Rawson and Ian Higgins. Oxford: OUP, 2005. | |||
Latest revision as of 11:13, 12 December 2018
30 November 1667 - 19 October 1745. Dublin. Author, Dean and satirist.
Childhood and Education
Jonathan Swift was born in Dublin in 1667 as the son of Jonathan Swift, the elder, an Englishman who left England and went to Ireland after the Restoration, and his wife Abigail. His childhood was a bit different from that of other children. The father had died in spring-time 1667, about half a year before Jonathan, the younger, was born. So his mother Abigail had to turn to the brothers of Jonathan, the elder, for help in bringing up Jonathan, the younger, and his sister. Even though the Swift family was in such a situation it took care of Jonathan's education. From 1673 to 1681 he went to Kilkenny Grammar School, which was at that time seen as the best Irish school available. Later (1682-1686) he studied classics at Trinity College in Dublin. In 1692 he went to Oxford to achieve the Master of Arts as a precondition for a career in the church.
Career
Working as a secretary first and later in ecclesiastical positions, Jonathan Swift was throughout his life deeply interested in literary writing. His first poems he is known to have written as early as 1691 and only one year later in 1692 his first work "Ode to the Athenian Society" was published. Apart from literature Swift showed also an immense interest in politics, first supporting the Whigs, later when his ideas and beliefs did no longer conform which their principles he changed sides and allied with the Tories. In this political context Swift is today especially known for writing "The Drapier's Letters" in 1724 and "A Modest Proposal" taking the side of Ireland against the English government, often in a very satirical manner. In his time, however, Swift's authorship of the letters was not officially known, although the government put up the reward of 300 pounds to find him, Swift stayed anonymous.
Works
- 1692 "Ode to the Athenian Society"
- 1696-99 A Tale of a Tub
- 1701 "A Discourse of the Contests and Dissensions Between the Nobles and Commons in Athens and Rome"
- 1726 Gulliver's Travels
Last years
There are rumours that in his last years Swift developed a bad temper. Sometimes this is attributed to Meniere's disease, which he had in his youth. Some time in the 1730s or early 1740s Swift had a stroke, which led in 1742 with the argument that he could no longer care for himself to his incapacitation. Swift died in 1745 and is buried in St. Patrick's Cathedral.
References
- Biography.com Editors. "Jonathan Swift Biography." The Biography.com website, A&E Television Networks, last updated 8 Dec 2014, https://www.biography.com/people/jonathan-swift-9500342. Accessed 7 Dec 2009.
- Real, Hermann J./ Vienken, Heinz J. Jonathan Swift: Gulliver's Travels. München: Wilhelm Fink Verlag, 1984.
- Swift, Jonathan. Gulliver's Travels. Ed. Claude Rawson and Ian Higgins. Oxford: OUP, 2005.