GULLIVER’S TRAVELS

GULLIVER’S TRAVELS

PART ONEThe Voyage to

Lilliput

PART ONEThe Voyage to

Lilliput

QUESTION #1QUESTION #1

What do you think is Gulliver's probable frame

of mind in the opening passage?

What do you think is Gulliver's probable frame

of mind in the opening passage?

ANSWERANSWER

• Confusion• Surprise• Fear• Curiosity

• Confusion• Surprise• Fear• Curiosity

QUESTION #2QUESTION #2

What does the Lilliputian language add to the

narrator’s report?(hint: ‘Modest Proposal’

statistics)

What does the Lilliputian language add to the

narrator’s report?(hint: ‘Modest Proposal’

statistics)

ANSWERANSWER

• Authenticity• Humor• A parody of Language• ENGLISH IN THIS CASE

• Authenticity• Humor• A parody of Language• ENGLISH IN THIS CASE

QUESTION #3QUESTION #3

In the comparison of random arrows to bombs

(p489), how does this passage hold significance

in this story?

In the comparison of random arrows to bombs

(p489), how does this passage hold significance

in this story?

ANSWERANSWER

• Makes light of the wars in Europe• Compares bombs to arrows that feel like

tiny pinpricks

• Draws parallel between make-believe society and his own• Indicates an amusing story with serious

undertones

• Makes light of the wars in Europe• Compares bombs to arrows that feel like

tiny pinpricks

• Draws parallel between make-believe society and his own• Indicates an amusing story with serious

undertones

QUESTION #4QUESTION #4

(End of 489) What details lead Gulliver to his

conclusion of whom the ‘principle person’ is?

(End of 489) What details lead Gulliver to his

conclusion of whom the ‘principle person’ is?

ANSWERANSWER

• Speaks from a stage• Gives a long speech• Lilliputians respond to his

directions• Taller than his attendants• One attendant carries his train

• Speaks from a stage• Gives a long speech• Lilliputians respond to his

directions• Taller than his attendants• One attendant carries his train

QUESTION #5QUESTION #5

(490) Define ORATOR:

How does a person act ‘every part of an orator’?

(490) Define ORATOR:

How does a person act ‘every part of an orator’?

ANSWERANSWER

• Person who speaks in public

• Broad gestures• Loud voice• Announcing tone

• Person who speaks in public

• Broad gestures• Loud voice• Announcing tone

QUESTION #6QUESTION #6

Do you find Gulliver’s ability to communicate

through sign language and gestures very

convincing? Why/ Why not?

Do you find Gulliver’s ability to communicate

through sign language and gestures very

convincing? Why/ Why not?

ANSWERANSWER• Communicating HUNGER--• Convincing because Gulliver receives what he needs

• SHARED GESTURES- “more” • throwing an object down

• If not convincing-- swearing sincerity

• Communicating HUNGER--• Convincing because Gulliver receives what he needs

• SHARED GESTURES- “more” • throwing an object down

• If not convincing-- swearing sincerity

QUESTION #7QUESTION #7

By the end of p491, what is Gulliver’s

internal conflict?

By the end of p491, what is Gulliver’s

internal conflict?

ANSWERANSWER

• Possibly mixed emotions of:• ANGER- imagines throwing them• FEAR• RESPECT of LAWS of HOSPITALITY

• Self-Preservation vs. Trust and Gratitude

• Possibly mixed emotions of:• ANGER- imagines throwing them• FEAR• RESPECT of LAWS of HOSPITALITY

• Self-Preservation vs. Trust and Gratitude

QUESTION #8QUESTION #8What humorous details enliven

the description of the Lilliputians(top 492) ?

What effect has humor played to enrich the descriptions of

the relationship being established between Gulliver

and the Lilliputians?

What humorous details enliven the description of the Lilliputians(top 492) ?

What effect has humor played to enrich the descriptions of

the relationship being established between Gulliver

and the Lilliputians?

ANSWERSANSWERS• Dancing on Gulliver’s hand• Playing ‘Hide and Seek’ in his hair• Playing children’s games

• Shows Gulliver as PLAYFUL, not a dangerous giant; TRUST built between them through the trivial activities.

• Dancing on Gulliver’s hand• Playing ‘Hide and Seek’ in his hair• Playing children’s games

• Shows Gulliver as PLAYFUL, not a dangerous giant; TRUST built between them through the trivial activities.

QUESTION #9QUESTION #9Define SATIRE:

What might Swift be satirizing in the ‘rope-

dancing’ ritual? (hint: Politics)

Define SATIRE:

What might Swift be satirizing in the ‘rope-

dancing’ ritual? (hint: Politics)

ANSWERSANSWERS• Work where RIDICULE is stressing

the WORST parts of a serious subject.

• Courtly Behavior• English Court• Irrelevance of test to position• Ridiculousness of office politics and

favoritism

• Work where RIDICULE is stressing the WORST parts of a serious subject.

• Courtly Behavior• English Court• Irrelevance of test to position• Ridiculousness of office politics and

favoritism

QUESTION #10QUESTION #10 (bottom of 2nd column. p492)

What seems to be Swift’s satirical point in describing the ‘diversion’ with the red,

blue and green threads?

(bottom of 2nd column. p492)

What seems to be Swift’s satirical point in describing the ‘diversion’ with the red,

blue and green threads?

ANSWERANSWER

• Seems to be poking fun at the courtiers

‘agility’ in sidestepping responsibility.

• Seems to be poking fun at the courtiers

‘agility’ in sidestepping responsibility.

QUESTION #11QUESTION #11How does Swift diminish the philosophical division between the two factions

in England? (493)

How does Swift diminish the philosophical division between the two factions

in England? (493)

ANSWERSANSWERS• Parody of the two (2) factions:• Uses two nearly identical but nonsensical

names (Tramecksan / Slamecksan)

• Indicates that their violent differences are based on something as insignificant as the height of the heels of shoes.

• Parody of the two (2) factions:• Uses two nearly identical but nonsensical

names (Tramecksan / Slamecksan)

• Indicates that their violent differences are based on something as insignificant as the height of the heels of shoes.

QUESTION #12QUESTION #12 (middle 2nd column, 493)

Why does the ‘heir’ walk with a hobble?

(middle 2nd column, 493)

Why does the ‘heir’ walk with a hobble?

ANSWERANSWER

• LITERALLY- he is wearing shoes of two different heights

• FIGURATIVELY- he cannot make up his mind, so he is ‘hobbled’ by his indecision

• LITERALLY- he is wearing shoes of two different heights

• FIGURATIVELY- he cannot make up his mind, so he is ‘hobbled’ by his indecision

QUESTION #13QUESTION #13 (2/3 down 2nd Col., 493)

Why does Swift satirize the lines beginning with: “For as to what we have heard you affirm…” and ending with , “…or one of the stars.”

(2/3 down 2nd Col., 493)

Why does Swift satirize the lines beginning with: “For as to what we have heard you affirm…” and ending with , “…or one of the stars.”

ANSWERANSWER

• NARROWMINDEDNESS

• When events or people do not fit into preconceived notions of the way the world works

• NARROWMINDEDNESS

• When events or people do not fit into preconceived notions of the way the world works

QUESTION #14QUESTION #14

Is there humor in the description of the egg-

breaking conflict?

Is there humor in the description of the egg-

breaking conflict?

ANSWERANSWER

• Yes• Funny to get upset over the way

an egg is broken

• NO- ????? (like, I don’t get it…)

• Yes• Funny to get upset over the way

an egg is broken

• NO- ????? (like, I don’t get it…)

QUESTION #15QUESTION #15

How is Gulliver’s decision, made at the

end of this voyage, satirical?

How is Gulliver’s decision, made at the

end of this voyage, satirical?

ANSWERANSWER

• Although he first stated that heWOULDN”T INTERFERE

Gulliver quickly rationalizes to do the EXPEDIENT thing--

FIGHT FOR LILLIPUT

• Although he first stated that heWOULDN”T INTERFERE

Gulliver quickly rationalizes to do the EXPEDIENT thing--

FIGHT FOR LILLIPUT

Tories and WhigsTories and Whigs

• Represented by the two parties in this story:

• Represented by the two parties in this story:

ToryTory

• A person who opposed the breach with Britain during the Revolutionary War (1775-83)

• Conservative Party• Opposed Whig attempts to

excluse the future James II from succession to the throne.

• A person who opposed the breach with Britain during the Revolutionary War (1775-83)

• Conservative Party• Opposed Whig attempts to

excluse the future James II from succession to the throne.

WhigWhig

• Organizer of “Glorious Revolution”

• Non-Catholics

• Organizer of “Glorious Revolution”

• Non-Catholics