The Restoration and 18th Century 1660-1800

Key Characteristics of time: Scientific discovery and research--making sense of the world through science and the mind (rather than the soul) Hence, “The Enlightenment” and “Age of Reason” titles Neoclassical art valued: ex: The Oath of Horatii by David and An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump by Wright Verisimilitude Controlled style and structure to writing, painting. etc.

Oath of Horatii by David (1784) Neoclassical Appropriate subject matter: Depicts Roman mythology Appears realistic verisimilitude

Texts We Will Study: Gulliver’s Travels (1726--rewritten in 1735) by Jonathan Swift “A Modest Proposal” (1729) by Jonathan Swift “The Rape of the Lock” (1712) by Alexander Pope The Female Tatler (1709-1710) various and anonymous The Spectator (1711-12; 1714) by Addison, Steele, and Johnson The Rambler (1750-2) by Johnson Chapter 11 in Writing About Literature **note that for this unit, we are not reading literature from another time period in addition the Restoration**

Unit Focus: Satire--how to identify it, what types, and for what purpose How does an author craft tone? What constitutes as “news worthy” material? Importance of point-of-view/perspective How is the literature a reaction to the ideals of the time period?

What Is Satire? In order to better understand the idea of satire, you will now read the 3-page handout detailing what satire is, the types of satire, why this style is used, and the characteristics Please take 10 minutes to read and annotate the handout. Be prepared to speak. Turn to your elbow partner and define the two types of satire in your own words: Points out the ignorance of people in hopes of change. Hates people and believes wickedness will overrule. Closely related to common idea of Tragedy.

What type of satire is this clip from The Onion? (2008) → Which type from page one of your handout and why? What is the satirists’ purpose?

What Type of Satire Is This? Idiocracy (2006) warning: foul language and crudity but this has a point → Which type from page one of your handout and why? What is the satirists’ purpose?

Characteristics of a Satire. How does Gulliver’s Travels Measure up? Is it topical, referring to its time and place. It claims to be realistic, although it is usually distorted or exaggerated. It is shocking. It is informal in tone and manner. It is funny, although it sometimes may be painful or grotesque.

Why type is Gulliver’s Travels? 3 Forms of Satire Why type is Gulliver’s Travels? Monologue Parody Narrative Monologue Colbert Report Cold Opens from SNL Swift’s “A Modest Proposal” Parody Ralegh’s “The Nymph’s Reply to The Shepherd” Pope’s “Rape of The Lock” The Female Tatler Narrative Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels

Passages for Close Reading in Book I: A Voyage to Lilliput Way to determine leadership in Lilliput: pg 21 Tramecksans and the Slamecksans pg 30 Big-Endians and Little-Endians pg 31 Fire in queen’s room pg 37(51) Burial practices pg 39

Passages for Close Reading in Book II: A Voyage to Brobdingnag Perspective- pg 66 Female beauty- pg 71 Gulliver as a spectacle- pg 74-78 Violence, spectacle - pg 99, 100 King’s response “My little Grildrig…” 107-8

Passages for Close Reading in Book 3: A Voyage to Laputa etc. Flappers pg. 132-3 Construction of Gulliver’s clothing by the Laputians pg. 135 King’s use of island as torture pg. 144-5 Construction of houses pg. 149 Any passage from Chapter 5 satirizing the Royal Academy. ex: hogs for tilling pg 154 “Printer” of sorts- pg 156-8 Ghosts conjured by Glubbdubdrib Governor & ideas of “truth” pg. 167

Passages for Close Reading in Book 4: A Voyage to the Houyhnhnms Initial description of Yahoos pg. 193 Clothing as both symbol and satire pg 197 Evolutionary limits of human body pg. 209, 214 Master horse relates selection of Yahoo leaders pg 228-29

Gulliver’s Travels: Passage Responses Homework: Books 1 & 2 Responses due Monday, Nov. 14th Books 3 & 4 Responses due Tuesday, Nov. 15th

Critical Article Assignment Each group will be assigned one of the following articles to read for homework tonight. Please come with 1 page of notes on your article for class tomorrow. You will use these to create a group summary (precis) of the article. Alan Bloom “An Outline of Gulliver’s Travels Samuel Holt Monk “The Pride of Lemuel Gulliver” W.B. Carnochan “Gulliver” The Satirist on Himself” John Lawlor “The Evolution of Gulliver’s Character” W.B.C. Watkins “Sense of Tragedy in Book IV” Critical Article Assignment