Notes on 1 st 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 18 th century, England’s economy had already transformed from agrarian to mercantile. This transformation actually begun in the Renaissance, i.e., 16 th 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 18 th century The novel genre became more pronounced (salient) in the mid to late 18 th 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 18 th 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 absurdity Modern man and his institutions under a microscope

18 th 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=18 th century