GULLIVER

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GULLIVERS TRAVELS

• PART ONE
• The Voyage to Lilliput

2
QUESTION 1

• What do you think is Gulliver's probable frame of
  mind in the opening passage?

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ANSWER

• Confusion
• Surprise
• Fear
• Curiosity

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QUESTION 2

• What does the Lilliputian language add to the
  narrators report?
• (hint Modest Proposal statistics)

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ANSWER

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

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QUESTION 3

• In the comparison of random arrows to bombs
  (p489), how does this passage hold significance
  in this story?

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ANSWER

• 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

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QUESTION 4

• (End of 489) What details lead Gulliver to his
  conclusion of whom the principle person is?

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ANSWER

• Speaks from a stage
• Gives a long speech
• Lilliputians respond to his directions
• Taller than his attendants
• One attendant carries his train

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QUESTION 5

• (490) Define ORATOR
• How does a person act every part of an orator?

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ANSWER

• Person who speaks in public
• Broad gestures
• Loud voice
• Announcing tone

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QUESTION 6

• Do you find Gullivers ability to communicate
  through sign language and gestures very
  convincing? Why/ Why not?

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ANSWER

• Communicating HUNGER--
• Convincing because Gulliver receives what he
  needs
• SHARED GESTURES- more
• throwing an object down
• If not convincing-- swearing sincerity

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QUESTION 7

• By the end of p491, what is Gullivers internal
  conflict?

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ANSWER

• Possibly mixed emotions of
• ANGER- imagines throwing them
• FEAR
• RESPECT of LAWS of HOSPITALITY
• Self-Preservation vs. Trust and Gratitude

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QUESTION 8

• 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?

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ANSWERS

• Dancing on Gullivers hand
• Playing Hide and Seek in his hair
• Playing childrens games
• Shows Gulliver as PLAYFUL, not a dangerous giant
  TRUST built between them through the trivial
  activities.

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QUESTION 9

• Define SATIRE
• What might Swift be satirizing in the rope-
  dancing ritual?
• (hint Politics)

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ANSWERS

• 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

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QUESTION 10

• (bottom of 2nd column. p492)
• What seems to be Swifts satirical point in
  describing the diversion with the red, blue and
  green threads?

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ANSWER

• Seems to be poking fun at the courtiers agility
  in sidestepping responsibility.

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QUESTION 11

• How does Swift diminish the philosophical
  division between the two factions in England?
  (493)

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ANSWERS

• 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.

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QUESTION 12

• (middle 2nd column, 493)
• Why does the heir walk with a hobble?

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ANSWER

• LITERALLY- he is wearing shoes of two
  different heights
• FIGURATIVELY- he cannot make up his mind, so he
  is hobbled by his indecision

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QUESTION 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.

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ANSWER

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

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QUESTION 14

• Is there humor in the description of the
  egg-breaking conflict?

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ANSWER

• Yes
• Funny to get upset over the way an egg is broken
• NO- ????? (like, I dont get it)

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QUESTION 15

• How is Gullivers decision, made at the end of
  this voyage, satirical?

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ANSWER

• Although he first stated that he
• WOULDNT INTERFERE
• Gulliver quickly rationalizes to do the
• EXPEDIENT thing--
• FIGHT FOR LILLIPUT

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Tories and Whigs

• Represented by the two parties in this story

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Tory

• 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.

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Whig

• Organizer of Glorious Revolution
• Non-Catholics