Gulliver’s Gulliver’s TravelsTravels

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Jonathan SwiftJonathan Swift

Gulliver’s Travels is a fictional travel guide.

Back when Swift was alive, travel books were very popular. He decided to write a fake travel book in order to satirize the bad things that people do.

The main character, Lemual Gulliver, works on a ship. On his voyages, there is always some horrible event that leaves him stranded in strange lands. Adventures result.

While at these strange lands, Gulliver has adventure after adventure. Underneath the action, a smart reader will see that the author is satirizing (making fun of in an educated way) the horrible things that humans do.

Swift depended on three Swift depended on three literaryliteraryelements when he wrote elements when he wrote Gulliver’s TravelsGulliver’s Travels..

► SatireSatire► AllegoryAllegory► IronyIrony

What is SATIRE?What is SATIRE?

SatireSatire consists of a mocking consists of a mocking attack against vices (bad attack against vices (bad habits) and stupidities…with an habits) and stupidities…with an aim to educate and/or aim to educate and/or improve.improve.

What is ALLEGORY?What is ALLEGORY?

Allegory is a literary device in which characters, Allegory is a literary device in which characters, situations, and places have a significance that situations, and places have a significance that goes beyond simply what they are alone. goes beyond simply what they are alone. Think of it as symbolism. Like satire, allegory Think of it as symbolism. Like satire, allegory is used to teach.is used to teach.

For example, one nasty character in the novel is For example, one nasty character in the novel is allegorical for the King of England back then. allegorical for the King of England back then. Swift didn’t mention the king’s Swift didn’t mention the king’s namename, but , but readers back then would have (with a chuckle) readers back then would have (with a chuckle) recognized the character as the king. recognized the character as the king.

What is IRONY?What is IRONY?

Irony is when the intended meaning of a Irony is when the intended meaning of a statement or an action is opposite to statement or an action is opposite to that which is represented. that which is represented.

For example, there are tiny creatures in For example, there are tiny creatures in the novel that take Gulliver prisoner. the novel that take Gulliver prisoner. It is ironic that Gulliver accepts this—It is ironic that Gulliver accepts this—since he could easily squash them all.since he could easily squash them all.