What comparison is the speaker making between the fly and himself

This is the political, social, cultural, and economic 'time and place' surrounding the creation of a literary text.

What is the meaning of each underlined word in these excerpts from "a modest proposal" by jonathan swift? i think it is agreed by all parties, that this prodigious number of children in the arms, or on the backs, or at the heels of their mothers, and frequently of their fathers, is in the present deplorable state of the kingdom, a very great additional grievance; and therefore whoever could find out a fair, cheap and easy method of making these children sound and useful members of the common-wealth, would deserve so well of the publick, as to have his statue set up for a preserver of the nation. some persons of a desponding spirit are in great concern about that vast number of poor people, who are aged, diseased, or maimed; and i have been desired to employ my thoughts what course may be taken, to ease the nation of so grievous an incumbrance. the word prodigious means . the word desponding means .

Me ! select the correct answer. in his essay "civil disobedience," henry david thoreau wrote "that government is best which governs least." which answer best shows how this motto reflects transcendentalist principles? a. an ideal government does not exist, so anarchy is best for a nation. b. citizens require the government to define the difference between right and wrong. c. government can act as an impediment to the will and morality of individual men. d. an ideal nation is one that is not governed by a monarchy or dictatorship. e. government on a large scale is inefficient and should be managed at the state level.