Assignment 1

1. The irony expressed by the letter is that the government is paying people to stop working in their present career. It would seem as if the government doesn't want farmers to be productive for some reason.

2. The government is attempting to rid the nation of the surplus of hogs. Or the government is possibly attempting to stop hog-raising in America, so that foreign investing may take place. Perhaps the government would prefer to import hogs. Or maybe perhaps the government is doing this so current hog-raisers will become more productive in a different trade which will be more useful to the government.

3. The critics of government used the literary tool of irony to convey their message. The letter is actually a form of satire to show the government the reality of their follies.

4. The social value that is being conveyed by the story is one of hard work. "There is no such thing as a free lunch!"

This lunch was definitely not free.

Scooby's expensive, don't you know?