GULLIVER’S TRAVELS
Miranda Avalos- Period 1
MAIN TOPIC
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The morals of society revealed in fantasy and
role playing in Gulliver’s Travels
JONATHAN SWIFT
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born Nov. 30 1667
Born in Ireland
Attended Trinity College
Became English politician
and member of the Whig
party in 1688 and later
with Tori’s
Worked for the church
Began writing satires of
corruption around him
Gullivers travels came
about this work
SOME ENGLAND 1720’S HISTORY
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George I took throne
after the death of
Queen Anne
Took throne with the
help of the Whig
ministers
Downfall of the
country’s society
HISTORICAL REFERENCES
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“Tramecksans who wear
high heals”
Slameksans who wear
low heels
“The appearance of the
emperor he is as taller
from the breath of my
nail”
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Tori political party
Whigs political party
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King George I
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WHY MAKE HISTORICAL REFERENCES?
To critique Britain and European Society
 Point out the corruption
 Reveal problems to all who read the novel
without them realizing it.
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HUMANITY GOING DOWNHILL
In four parts of the book, each represent the
declining of society as a whole
 Lilliput
 Brobdingnag
 Laputa, Balnibarbi, Luggnagg, Glubbdubdrib,
and Japan
 Country of the Houyhnhnms
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1ST VOYAGE
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Lilliput
6 inches of fury
Believed they were high
and mighty
Had a king
“He held his sword
drawn in his hand, to
defend himself, if I
should happen to break
loose…” (37)
2ND VOYAGE
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Brobdingnag
Giants
Have a queen
Do not use their full
extent of power
“from giving me any other
motions than those of
horror and disgust…Their
skins appeared so coarse
and uneven, so variously
coloured when I saw them
near…”(143)
3RD VOYAGE
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Laputa, Balnibarbi,
Luggnagg, Glubbdubdrib,
and Japan
Regular size
Believed they had power
but hardly had any
All bark and no bite
4TH VOYAGE
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Country of the
Houyhnhnms
Intelligent horses
Yahoos and
Houyhnhnms
The disturbed society at
it’s peak
THE MORALS?
Do not be arrogant-you may be on the opposite
side of the table next time
 The phase you are in will transform with
knowledge
 Do not pride yourself on only a particular
subject
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(did I make the time limit? No? okay, backup plan…)
ANY QUESTIONS?