Which statement best describes Swift’s use of rhetorical devices in this excerpt?

Swift uses a false premise when he says that people of the kingdom are in “want of venison.”

Swift uses irony when he says “so great a number of both sexes” are in desperate need of “work and service.”

Swift uses irony when he says the person with whom he discussed his plan is “very worthy” and “a true lover of this country.”

Swift uses a false premise when he says the “gentlemen of the kingdom” have “destroyed their deer.”

Based on the excerpt, Swift uses irony when he saya the person who he discussed his plan is "very worthy" and "a true lover of his country". It is an irony because it is the opposite of the characteristic of the man he's talking to.

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holesstanham holesstanham · Answer 2 · 2019-02-03T18:22:58-05:00

Answer: Swift uses irony when he says the person with whom he discussed his plan is “very worthy” and “a true lover of this country.”

In the excerpt, Swift tells us of his discussion with a man. He describes the man as "very worthy" and "a true lover of his country." However, the man complains about the diminishing number of deer, and his proposed solution is to eat boys and girls between 12 and 14 years of age. Therefore, the description of the man is ironic, as he is not worthy or loving at all.