Read this excerpt from Jonathan Swift’s A Modest Proposal.

“I do therefore humbly offer it to public consideration that of the hundred and twenty thousand children already computed, twenty thousand may be reserved for breed, whereof only one-fourth part to be males; which is more than we allow to sheep, black cattle or swine."

Which of these is most strongly evidenced by the scholarly tone of this passage?

Swift’s use of rational argument

Swift’s meticulous research into the topic

Swift’s disregard for the welfare of poor children

Swift’s use of verbal irony

The fact that Swift uses such a scholarly, formal tone in this excerpt only makes it more clear that he is using verbal irony. Irony refers to the use of devices and circumstances that represent the opposite of what is to be expected. In this case, the subject is extremely horrible (the killing and breeding of children), but the tone is not as desperate and angry as would be expected. Instead, it is calm, collected and scholarly. This is an example of verbal irony.