GULLIVER’S TRAVELS
PART ONE
The Voyage to Lilliput
QUESTION #1
What do you think is
Gulliver's probable frame of
mind in the opening
passage?
ANSWER
•
•
•
•
Confusion
Surprise
Fear
Curiosity
QUESTION #2
What does the Lilliputian
language add to the
narrator’s report?
(hint: ‘Modest Proposal’
statistics)
ANSWER
• Authenticity
• Humor
• A parody of Language
• ENGLISH IN THIS CASE
QUESTION #3
In the comparison of random
arrows to bombs (p489),
how does this passage hold
significance in this story?
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
QUESTION #4
(End of 489) What details
lead Gulliver to his
conclusion of whom the
‘principle person’ is?
ANSWER
•
•
•
•
•
Speaks from a stage
Gives a long speech
Lilliputians respond to his directions
Taller than his attendants
One attendant carries his train
QUESTION #5
(490) Define ORATOR:
How does a person act
‘every part of an orator’?
ANSWER
• Person who speaks in public
• Broad gestures
• Loud voice
• Announcing tone
QUESTION #6
Do you find Gulliver’s ability
to communicate through
sign language and
gestures very convincing?
Why/ Why not?
ANSWER
• Communicating HUNGER-• Convincing because Gulliver
receives what he needs
• SHARED GESTURES- “more”
• throwing an object down
• If not convincing-- swearing
sincerity
QUESTION #7
By the end of p491, what
is Gulliver’s internal
conflict?
ANSWER
• Possibly mixed emotions of:
• ANGER- imagines throwing them
• FEAR
• RESPECT of LAWS of HOSPITALITY
• Self-Preservation vs. Trust and Gratitude
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?
ANSWERS
• 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 #9
Define SATIRE:
What might Swift be
satirizing in the ‘ropedancing’ ritual?
(hint: Politics)
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
QUESTION #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?
ANSWER
• Seems to be poking fun at
the courtiers ‘agility’ in
sidestepping
responsibility.
QUESTION #11
How does Swift diminish the
philosophical division
between the two factions in
England? (493)
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.
QUESTION #12
 (middle 2nd column, 493)
Why does the ‘heir’ walk
with a hobble?
ANSWER
• LITERALLY- he is wearing shoes of two
different heights
• FIGURATIVELY- he cannot make up his
mind, so he is ‘hobbled’ by his
indecision
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.”
ANSWER
• NARROWMINDEDNESS
• When events or people do not fit into
preconceived notions of the way the
world works
QUESTION #14
Is there humor in the
description of the eggbreaking conflict?
ANSWER
• Yes
• Funny to get upset over the way an
egg is broken
• NO- ????? (like, I don’t get it…)
QUESTION #15
How is Gulliver’s decision,
made at the end of this
voyage, satirical?
ANSWER
• Although he first stated that he
WOULDN”T INTERFERE
Gulliver quickly rationalizes to do the
EXPEDIENT thing--
FIGHT FOR LILLIPUT
Tories and Whigs
• Represented by the two parties in
this story:
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.
Whig
• Organizer of “Glorious Revolution”
• Non-Catholics