Notes on 1st Gullivers

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, Englands 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 creaturesomething peculiarly
other
In Brob., Gulliver is, satirically, a lower class
work horse (a la Orwells Boxer)
Rather than say Swifts feelings (which no one
but Swift knows about), say Swifts stance, for
which we have evidence to prove.

FYI
Had Gullivers 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 Swifts Gullivers Travels, the
author
What is the difference between societies
and societys?

Gullivers Travels is
Mans hermeneuticali.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 mans
absurdity
Modern 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