Characters
Who is the narrator of the story?
Lemuel Gulliver
What country does Gulliver first travel to?
Lilliput
In what century was Gulliver’s Travels written?
18th century (1726)
What do the small size of the Lilliputians symbolize?
Pettiness and small-mindedness
Define “voyage.”
A long journey, usually by sea
Who is Gulliver’s wife?
Mary Burton
How does he put out the fire in the Lilliputian palace?
By urinating on it
What country was Jonathan Swift from?
Ireland
What does the land of giants show about power?
Power can be overwhelming and dangerous
What does “giant” mean?
A very large person or creature
What are the tiny people in Lilliput called?
Lilliputians
Why do the Lilliputians become angry with Gulliver?
Because he refuses to help them conquer Blefuscu
Was it originally written for children or adults?
Adults— political satire
Why are the Houyhnhnms important?
They symbolize reason and logic without passion
What is a “shipwreck”?
An accident where a ship is destroyed at sea
What is the name of the race of giants Gulliver meets?
Brobdingnagians
How does he leave Brobdingnag?
An eagle drops him into the sea; he’s rescued by a ship
What was Swift criticizing via the Lilliputians’ arguments?
Absurd political conflicts (e.g., how to break eggs)
What do the Yahoos represent?
The worst human qualities—greed, violence, selfishness
What is an “emperor”?
A ruler of an empire
Who rules the Houyhnhnms?
The horses, i.e. the Houyhnhnm masters
Why does Gulliver decide to stay with the Houyhnhnms?
He admires their rational, peaceful way of life
What is satire?
Writing using humor, irony, exaggeration to criticize society
What lesson does Gulliver learn about humanity?
Humans can be foolish and corrupt
What is “satire” in literature?
A story that criticizes society by making fun of it