Swift's Parody

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Focusing on parody as a key structural element in Jonathan Swift's prose, this study examines his works, particularly A Tale of a Tub, before 1714. Robert Phiddian analyzes how Swift constructs and deconstructs textual authority, revealing insights into cultural-historical, biographical, and literary contexts. The research highlights the occasions of Swift's parodies, their relationships with quoted texts, and their impact on cultural authority in late-Stuart England. Additionally, it offers a fresh perspective on Swift's early career as a potentially Whiggish intellectual while exploring the intricacies of language and irony.