• 2022-06-14
    What are the narrative features of Gulliver's Travels?
  • The language here, as is typical of all Swift’s works, is very simple, unadorned, straightforward and effective. An apparent innocence and honesty of the hero and his account, the direct truthful, detailed presentation of people and things encountered set off the biting satire and a desperate indignation of the writer. Besides, the novel is noted for its exceptionally tidy structural arrangement. The four seemingly independent parts are lined up by the central idea of social satire and make up an organic whole. In Part One, the satire on the 18th-century England is brought out through its similarities to the Lilliputian land, and in Part Two, through its differences, by way of contrasting, from the Brobdingnagians. Part Three is given to ridiculing the obtuse scientific researches and philosophical discussions of the day through description of the Academy of Projectors in Lagado and through criticizing the false history in the episode about the island of the Sorcerers. And in Part Four the satire is developed into a study of humanity through description of both the agonizing similarities between human beings and Yahoos, and the disturbing sharp contrast between human beings and Yahoos and the Houyhnhnms. Hence the complementary relationship between the four parts, each supporting adding to and developing the central satire. This is especially true of the first two parts. The narrative pattern of the book is also outstanding. Common to all the four parts, there is the apparent outward-homeward-bound motif, treating Gulliver’s adventures and his inevitable return to England. With each voyage, there is a grave consistency and of a darkening gradation of incident and a growing perversion of the hero. On one hand, the incident begins with a chance shipwreck, goes on to some man-made misfortunes and finally ends with intended mutinies. On the other, the hero’s attitude towards mankind changes from firm belief to doubt, further doubt, and finally to dislike. His early eagerness to return home eventually turns into complete reluctance.

    内容

    • 0

      Gulliver’s Travels gives an unparalleled ____ depiction of vices of his age.

    • 1

      Does Gulliver's travels draw on some of his experiences in the court?

    • 2

      In the first part of Gulliver's Travels, Gulliver told his experience in ___________. A: Lilliput B: Brobdingnag C: Houyhnhnms D: Laputa

    • 3

      Homer’s epics refer to the and the ( ). A: Gulliver's Travels B: Odyssey C: Paradise Lost D: Rex

    • 4

      In Gulliver's Travels, Gulliver told his encounter with people of 60 feet in height in ___________. A: Lilliput B: Brobdingnag C: Houyhnhnms D: Laputa