Question

What is the significance of swift's use of the names strephon and celia? a. because swift spells the names unusually, the reader cannot connect the characters to the real-life ones he was imitating. b. because swift uses names common to the english lower class, he avoids insulting the upper class. c. because swift uses fictional names, the reader understands that the poet is not telling a story about actual people. d. because swift uses names common to classic english novels, he creates an allusion that connects old characters to his new ideas?

Answer 1

I believe the correct answer is C. because swift uses fictional names, the reader understands that the poet is not telling a story about actual people.
Strephon and Celia are names that Swift made up in order to distance his story from any actual people that he may have based his characters on. He wants his audience to understand that there is no connection between his characters and the actual world outside his novel.

Answer 2

Because Swift uses fictional names, the reader understands that the poet is not telling a story about actual people.