notes on 1 st gulliver’s travels timed, in-class essay, 2009 mr. cleon m. mclean a.p. english...
TRANSCRIPT
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