1. Gulliver’s Travels: double-entry note-taking

2. Explanation Swift uses the description of the people in each land to show the faults present in his society. He has exaggerated his own society’s faults in the hopes of getting his point across (similar to the “if all your friends jumped off a bridge would you jump to” argument parents use to show why what others do shouldn’t impact your decisions). Swift uses the description of the people in each land to show the faults present in his society. He has exaggerated his own society’s faults in the hopes of getting his point across (similar to the “if all your friends jumped off a bridge would you jump to” argument parents use to show why what others do shouldn’t impact your decisions). With the Brobdingnagians and the Houyhnmhnms, though, Gulliver (not the citizens of that land) represents Swift’s society. With the Brobdingnagians and the Houyhnmhnms, though, Gulliver (not the citizens of that land) represents Swift’s society.

3. Lilliputians Description small in size small in size violent & cruel violent & cruel most don’t know why they’re at war most don’t know why they’re at war kill people over what side to break the egg on kill people over what side to break the egg on leapers & creepers determines who is elected to govern leapers & creepers determines who is elected to govern Swift’s Society small-minded or narrow-minded small-minded or narrow-minded fight over stupid stuff, if they even know what they’re fighting about fight over stupid stuff, if they even know what they’re fighting about choose leaders based on stuff that shouldn’t matter (e.g. race, gender, money, popularity) instead of on what should (e.g. issues, character, leadership ability) choose leaders based on stuff that shouldn’t matter (e.g. race, gender, money, popularity) instead of on what should (e.g. issues, character, leadership ability)

4. Brobdingnagians Description big in size big in size everyone is equally represented in government everyone is equally represented in government no poor or starving people no poor or starving people everyone has a specific job to do everyone has a specific job to do peaceful peaceful Swift’s Society small-minded small-minded think someone must be poor in order for society to work think someone must be poor in order for society to work leaders have few morals and many faults leaders have few morals and many faults quick to go to war quick to go to war

5. Floating Island Description think they are brilliant but really know nothing think they are brilliant but really know nothing have to be hit over the head to get their attention have to be hit over the head to get their attention make impulsive decisions make impulsive decisions Swift’s Society those in power think they are smarter than they really are those in power think they are smarter than they really are in order for an issue of importance to get the attention it deserves, the situation has to become bad in order for an issue of importance to get the attention it deserves, the situation has to become bad don’t think things through before acting on them don’t think things through before acting on them

6. The Academy Description want to destroy the old world to make room for the new one want to destroy the old world to make room for the new one focused on solving “problems” – how to: communicate with others without speaking, extract sun light from cucumbers, build houses from the roof down, plow a field using pigs focused on solving “problems” – how to: communicate with others without speaking, extract sun light from cucumbers, build houses from the roof down, plow a field using pigs Swift’s Society want to destroy everything and start over instead of simply fixing the problems and continuing with what works want to destroy everything and start over instead of simply fixing the problems and continuing with what works focus on issues that are unimportant instead of ones that matter focus on issues that are unimportant instead of ones that matter try to “solve problems” that don’t need solving because the current way is working just fine try to “solve problems” that don’t need solving because the current way is working just fine

7. Immortals Description live forever live forever in poor health – sick all the time in poor health – sick all the time blind blind Swift’s Society don’t care what they have to give up as long as they get what they want don’t care what they have to give up as long as they get what they want unable to see what truly matters in life unable to see what truly matters in life

8. House of the Dead Description historian gets history from the source historian gets history from the source drugs and lies to Gulliver drugs and lies to Gulliver pricks Gulliver’s finger & uses his blood to bring the dead back to life pricks Gulliver’s finger & uses his blood to bring the dead back to life Swift’s Society don’t care who they hurt as long as they get what they want out of it (current example in our society – druggies who sell their children just so they can get their next fix) don’t care who they hurt as long as they get what they want out of it (current example in our society – druggies who sell their children just so they can get their next fix)

9. Houyhnmhnms (the ideal society) Description horses – act like “humans” horses – act like “humans” peaceful peaceful intelligent intelligent no greed no greed no lying – lies are considered a corrosion of the language no lying – lies are considered a corrosion of the language don’t wear clothes don’t wear clothes Swift’s Society behave worse than animals behave worse than animals greedy greedy lie lie believe themselves superior to others believe themselves superior to others cannot be trusted to behave without constraints (e.g. clothes) cannot be trusted to behave without constraints (e.g. clothes)

10. Yahoos Description act like “animals” act like “animals” dirty & violent dirty & violent greedy – jewels greedy – jewels leader is chosen by who is the sneakiest leader is chosen by who is the sneakiest loser has excrement thrown on him loser has excrement thrown on him second in command licks feet & behind of leader second in command licks feet & behind of leader Swift’s Society act out of control and like they have no morals act out of control and like they have no morals greedy greedy elect people to office who have a horrible character elect people to office who have a horrible character kiss up to those in office, but once they leave, talk trash about them kiss up to those in office, but once they leave, talk trash about them