Gulliver's Travels Book 1

Plot Summary
Lemuel Gulliver, an English surgeon, decides to travel the world by sea. During one of his
voyages, a violent storm strikes his ship, causing it to sink. Gulliver manages to swim to an
unknown shore, exhausted and barely conscious. As soon as he reaches land, he collapses and
falls into a deep sleep. When he wakes up, he finds that his arms, legs, and even his hair are tied
down with tiny ropes. He is unable to move. Looking around, he sees hundreds of tiny human-like
figures climbing over his body and staring at him with curiosity and fear. These people are the
Lilliputians, who are only six inches tall. At first, they see Gulliver as a giant and a possible
threat. They poke him with tiny spears to keep him from struggling, but their weapons feel like
mere pinpricks to Gulliver.

The Lilliputians decide to transport Gulliver to their capital city. Since he is too large to walk
freely without causing destruction, they build a special wooden platform with wheels. Hundreds
of tiny horses pull the platform, slowly carrying Gulliver across the land. It takes hours for them
to reach the city. Once there, Gulliver is placed inside an enormous abandoned temple, which the
Lilliputians modify to serve as his temporary home. Since they fear he might break free and
destroy their city, they keep him tied up and post armed guards around him. However, they also
provide him with food and drink, though the portions are incredibly small for someone of his size.
They bring him hundreds of tiny loaves of bread and barrels of wine no bigger than a thimble.

After some time, the Lilliputians begin to see that Gulliver is not a danger to them. He remains
calm, does not resist their orders, and tries to communicate. Eventually, the Emperor of Lilliput
allows him more freedom, though he must promise to follow the country’s rules and remain loyal
to the kingdom. Gulliver agrees. Over time, he learns the Lilliputian language and begins to
understand their culture and customs. The Lilliputians take great pride in their laws and traditions,
even though many of their beliefs seem trivial to Gulliver. They take politics very seriously and
are divided into two main factions, the Tramecksan and Slamecksan, who argue over whether
people should wear high-heeled or low-heeled shoes. Another major dispute is about the correct
way to break an egg. One group, called the Big-Endians, believes that eggs should be cracked at
the larger end, while the other group, the Little-Endians, insists they should be cracked at the
smaller end. This seemingly ridiculous disagreement has caused long and bloody wars between
Lilliput and its neighboring island, Blefuscu.

The Emperor of Lilliput quickly realizes that Gulliver could be useful in the war against Blefuscu.
Since Gulliver is a giant compared to the tiny soldiers, he could help Lilliput defeat its enemy. The
Emperor orders Gulliver to assist in the war effort. Gulliver, wanting to maintain peace, agrees to
help but does not wish to harm anyone. Instead of fighting, he wades into the sea, walks over to
Blefuscu’s harbor, and captures their entire fleet of warships by tying them together with ropes.
He then pulls the ships back to Lilliput, effectively ending the threat of invasion. The Lilliputians
celebrate him as a hero, and Gulliver gains even more respect in the kingdom.

However, Gulliver soon realizes that he has made a mistake. The Emperor, now feeling more
powerful, wants to use Gulliver to completely destroy Blefuscu. He demands that Gulliver return
to Blefuscu and finish off their people. Gulliver refuses, believing it is wrong to cause
unnecessary destruction. This refusal angers the Emperor and his advisers. Some members of the
royal court, already jealous of Gulliver’s popularity, begin to plot against him. They accuse him of
treason and claim that he has insulted the Emperor by not obeying orders. The officials secretly
plan a cruel punishment for Gulliver: they will blind him and slowly starve him to death.

Luckily, one of Gulliver’s friends warns him about the plan. Realizing that his life is in danger,
Gulliver decides to escape. He sneaks out of the city and flees to Blefuscu, where he is welcomed
by its leaders. While staying there, he discovers a small boat that has washed up on the shore. He
repairs the boat and gathers enough supplies for a journey. After a few days at sea, he is spotted by
an English ship. The sailors rescue him and listen in amazement as he tells them about his
adventures. Eventually, Gulliver returns to England, safe but restless. He enjoys being home for a
while but soon starts longing for more adventure, leading him to plan another voyage.
 Post Class

1. What type of novel is Gulliver’s Travels? How does it modify the popular literary pattern
of the early 18th century? What makes Gulliver different or imperfect as a protagonist?

Gulliver’s Travels is a satirical travel narrative, a genre that was widely popular in the early 18th
century. During this period, travel books were bestsellers because readers were fascinated by new
lands and cultures discovered through colonial expansion. These accounts often portrayed
European civilization as superior and positioned the traveller as an enlightened hero bringing back
knowledge.

How does Swift change this pattern?

Instead of celebrating travel and discovery, Swift inverts the expectations of the genre:

● Gulliver does not always encounter societies that he can "civilize"; instead, he often finds
places where his own society looks ridiculous by comparison.

● The lands he visits reflect and exaggerate flaws in European society, making the reader
question whether their own world is truly advanced.

● By the end of the novel, travel does not bring wisdom to Gulliver—it leads to
disillusionment and alienation, as he ultimately rejects humanity itself.

What makes Gulliver an unusual or imperfect protagonist?

Unlike traditional heroic travellers, Gulliver is:

1. Unreliable as a narrator – He often fails to see the absurdity of the situations he’s in,
taking ridiculous customs seriously.

2. Lacking self-awareness – He believes he is rational and objective, yet he is often biased,

gullible, or completely wrong.

3. Easily manipulated – He is frequently deceived or used by the people he encounters,

unlike a typical hero who overcomes challenges.

4. Increasingly disconnected from reality – By the end of the novel, he loses all ability to
relate to other humans, showing that his journey has led to madness, not wisdom.
Swift's literary techniques—satirical irony, exaggeration, inversion of expectations, and unreliable
narration—help make Gulliver’s Travels a deep critique of both human nature and the travel
literature of the time.

2. What does the story tell us when viewed as a political, social, and religious satire? How
does it parody literature? How does it reflect 18th-century society’s dreams and political
ideals?

Political Satire: A Critique of Corruption and Power

Swift uses the different lands Gulliver visits to expose the absurdity of real-world political
systems.

● In Lilliput, political figures gain power not through intelligence or virtue but through
performing literal rope-jumping tricks—a direct satire of how politicians in Britain often
gained power through connections rather than merit.

● The war between Lilliput and Blefuscu is over which end of an egg should be broken first,
representing the triviality of real-world conflicts, such as those between England and
France or the Catholic-Protestant divide.

● The Laputans are so obsessed with abstract theories that they completely ignore the
suffering of their own people. This mocks the Enlightenment-era intellectuals who
focused on impractical ideas instead of solving real problems.

Social Satire: Exposing Human Flaws

● The Yahoos—disgusting, savage creatures resembling humans—serve as a brutal

representation of mankind’s worst instincts. Swift suggests that despite our claims to
reason and civilization, we might be no better than animals.

● The Houyhnhnms, intelligent horses who live by pure reason, seem ideal at first—but
their world is devoid of emotion, individuality, or compassion. Swift warns against blindly
worshipping reason at the cost of humanity.

Religious Satire: The Absurdity of Religious Conflicts

● The egg dispute in Lilliput satirizes the centuries-long conflict between Catholics and
Protestants, showing how people fight over meaningless differences rather than focusing
on real moral values.
 ● The Laputans' obsession with the heavens mocks religious and philosophical thinkers who
prioritize abstract speculation over real human needs.

Parody of Literature: Making Fun of Travel Books

● Gulliver’s Travels mocks the popular travel books of the time, which often exaggerated
discoveries or painted explorers as noble and heroic.

● Swift’s Gulliver is the opposite of a heroic traveller—he learns nothing useful, becomes
more confused and unhappy, and ultimately rejects humanity altogether.

● Instead of portraying the exotic lands as inferior to Europe, Swift flips the narrative,
showing that in many ways, these societies are actually better than European civilization.

Does the novel reflect or challenge 18th-century ideals?

Swift is deeply sceptical of the Enlightenment belief in progress. While many in the 18th century
saw science, reason, and exploration as leading to a better world, Swift suggests that human
nature is too flawed to create a perfect society. His novel warns that political systems, social
hierarchies, and even rationalism itself can be just as corrupt and absurd as the problems they try
to fix.

3. What does Gulliver represent as an 18th-century literary character? What is Swift

satirizing through him?

Gulliver starts as a rational, educated man, reflecting the ideals of the Enlightenment:

● He believes in empirical observation (learning through experience).

● He assumes European civilization is superior to others.

● He tries to be objective and scientific in his descriptions.

But as the novel progresses, his experiences challenge these beliefs:

● In Brobdingnag, he realizes that human laws and customs seem ridiculous when viewed
from a different perspective.

● In Laputa, he sees how obsession with knowledge can be useless and impractical.

● In the land of the Houyhnhnms, he becomes so obsessed with logic and order that he
loses his ability to relate to other people.
By the end, Gulliver is no longer a hero—he is a broken man who despises his own species. Swift
uses him to parody the idea of the rational, idealized Enlightenment man, showing that reason
alone does not lead to wisdom or happiness.

4. How does the novel represent imperialism and colonialism?

Swift critiques imperialism and colonialism by exposing the hypocrisy of European expansion.

● In Lilliput, Gulliver is hailed as a hero but is later betrayed when he no longer serves a
purpose—just like how European powers treated their colonies.

● The Laputans rule over their land through pure intellectual superiority but fail to care for
their people, a metaphor for how colonial rulers imposed their values while ignoring local
needs.

● When Gulliver encounters the Yahoos, he instinctively views them as savages—a

reflection of how Europeans justified their brutal treatment of indigenous peoples by
branding them as inferior.

● At the end, Gulliver becomes what European colonizers feared—a man so immersed in
another culture that he can no longer function in his own society.

By flipping the colonial narrative, Swift shows that imperialism is not about civilization and
progress but about power, arrogance, and exploitation.
 Definitions
1. Preface

A preface is an introduction at the beginning of a book, usually written by the author or another
person, explaining the purpose, context, or background of the work. It may provide insight into
the author’s intentions, acknowledge influences, or prepare the reader for the themes of the text.
Sometimes, a preface can also be used ironically or as a literary device to shape how the reader
perceives the story.

Example in Book 1:

Swift includes a fictional preface, supposedly written by "Richard Sympson," a character who
presents Gulliver’s story as a real travel narrative. This preface claims that the book is factual and
educational rather than fictional or entertaining. This is ironic because Gulliver’s Travels is
obviously a satire meant to amuse as well as criticize. By mimicking the serious tone of real travel
writers of his time, Swift is making fun of the way authors falsely presented their exaggerated or
imaginary adventures as absolute truth.

2. Satire / Irony

Satire is a literary technique that uses humour, exaggeration, ridicule, or irony to expose and
criticize human flaws, social norms, or political systems. It often highlights hypocrisy or absurdity
in society. Irony, a key tool in satire, occurs when there is a contrast between what is expected and
what actually happens.

Example in Book 1:

Swift uses satire heavily in his depiction of the Lilliputians and their government. One of the most
famous examples is the war between Lilliput and Blefuscu, which is fought over a ridiculous
dispute—whether eggs should be cracked at the big end or the little end. This is a direct satire of
the religious and political conflicts between England and France, which Swift saw as petty and
unnecessary. The selection of government officials in Lilliput is another satirical moment. Instead
of choosing leaders based on intelligence or experience, Lilliputians decide political appointments
through rope-dancing contests, where candidates must prove their agility and balance. This is a
clear mockery of how political power is often gained through meaningless qualifications rather
than true ability.

Irony is also present in how Gulliver, a literal giant compared to the Lilliputians, allows himself to
be controlled by tiny, insignificant people. Even though he is physically powerful, he submits to
their rules and even helps them in their war against Blefuscu. This is Swift’s way of showing the
irony of political power, where those who appear strong are often manipulated by those in control.

3. Parody

A parody is an exaggerated or humorous imitation of a particular style, genre, or work. It often

mimics the tone and structure of a real literary form while making it ridiculous to highlight its
weaknesses or absurdities.

Example in Book 1:

Swift parodies travel literature, which was very popular in the 18th century. Writers like Daniel
Defoe (Robinson Crusoe) and explorers’ accounts often exaggerated the truth, making themselves
seem like heroic adventurers. Gulliver, however, is not a heroic figure—he is mostly passive,
often naive, and finds himself in absurd situations. Swift mimics the detailed descriptions found in
travelogues but makes them overly specific and pointless, such as when Gulliver describes the
exact measurements of the Lilliputians or how their society functions in extreme detail. Instead of
making the world feel real, these excessive details make it seem absurd, turning the book into a
parody of the travel genre.

5. Imperfect Novel, Near-Novel, and Quasi-Novel

● Imperfect Novel – A novel that does not fully meet the traditional expectations of a novel,
often lacking deep character development or a consistent plot.

● Near-Novel – A work that resembles a novel in its structure but does not entirely fit the
form.

● Quasi-Novel – A text that imitates the style of a novel but primarily serves another
function, such as satire or allegory.
Example in Book 1:

Gulliver’s Travels is often called a quasi-novel because it has the structure of a novel but serves a
different purpose. Instead of focusing on character growth or personal struggles, the book uses its
storytelling to deliver satire. Gulliver is not a deeply developed character; he mostly observes and
describes rather than actively shaping the story. The episodic nature of his adventures also makes
the book feel less like a traditional novel and more like a collection of satirical episodes. This
makes Gulliver’s Travels an imperfect or quasi-novel rather than a full novel.

6. Utopia / Dystopia

● A utopia is an ideal society where everything is perfect—government, laws, and daily life
work in harmony.

● A dystopia is the opposite—an oppressive society that may appear orderly but is actually
full of corruption, injustice, or suffering.

Example in Book 1:

At first, Lilliput seems like a utopia. The society is well-organized, has clear laws, and follows a
structured political system. However, as the story continues, it becomes clear that Lilliput is
actually a dystopia. The government is obsessed with controlling minor details, such as how
people crack their eggs, and punishes people severely for trivial offenses. The emperor is
power-hungry and paranoid, even plotting to have Gulliver killed despite the help he has given
them. The society values obedience over justice, which makes it more of a dystopia disguised as a
utopia. This is Swift’s way of criticizing real-world governments, which often present themselves
as fair and just but are actually full of corruption and senseless laws.