Notes on 1st Gulliver’s Travels timed, in-class

essay, 2009

Mr. Cleon M. McLean

A.P. English

Ontario High School

FYI

Not all the historical and anecdotal information I give you should be used in your essay. I am just covering all my bases, so you can many tools in your bag of tricks to handle any which prompt

By the 18th century, England’s economy had already transformed from agrarian to mercantile. This transformation actually begun in the Renaissance, i.e., 16th century

Sweet French Words to Know!

nouveau riche(noun)—a person who is newly rich

Milieu (noun)—surroundings, esp. of a social and cultural nature

Ennui(noun)—a feeling of boredom or discontent

fantastical (not French)—means of fantasy

FYI

Gulliver does not travel to any of the fantastic islands. He has several misadventures or mischance adventures

The word “echelon” means level of rank, authority or power. So you have to say “social echelons” if you are referring to the various social classes

To discuss what is being satirized, think about using the transition phrase, “under the satire”

FYI

In Brobdingnag, Gulliver is accepted not as an animal, but as a “creature”—something peculiarly “other”

In Brob., Gulliver is, satirically, a lower class work horse (a la Orwell’s Boxer)

Rather than say “Swift’s feelings” (which no one but Swift knows about), say “Swift’s stance,” for which we have evidence to prove.

FYI

Had Gulliver’s Travels not been a work of satire, then its absurdity would be taken as just entertainment, not the critical enlightenment treatise it is beneath the satire.

The novel genre set sail in the literary world in the mid to late 18th century

The novel genre became more pronounced (salient) in the mid to late 18th century

FYI

Because of the malleable, i.e., changeable nature of comparing and contrasting, it is prudent to make use of transitional phrases, esp. when shifting from one side to another

18th century British/European monarchies/governments were not like that of the US, so be careful with your “what ifs”

What is wrong with the following?

A point that Swift delivers to the reader

Gulliver represents the higher class

In Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels, the author…

What is the difference between “societies” and “society’s”?

Gulliver’s Travels is…

Man’s hermeneutical—i.e.,the science of interpretation (esp. of the Scriptures) search for an utopian society Escapist, adventure on the high seas novel A fantastical exploration of modern man’s absurdityModern man and his institutions under a microscope

18th century European milieu means…

Rationality

Wit

Enlightenment

Decorum

Sense

Urbanity

Civility

Conservatism

When you write that Swift satirizes various social and political institutions of England, specifically, and Europe, generally, you need to specify the time period=18th century