The
18th century was one of massive changes worldwide, where borders were
moved, countries established, and discoveries in sciences abounded. In
that period, social boundaries, particularly in England, also became
strongly established, dividing rich from poor and poorer.
Gulliver's Travels
is long, with several sections, and requires a strong attention span to
retain Swift's views. His view of society effectively slashes and
burns, being a master of satire, to the point where he had to write
under pseudonyms.
"His skill is comparable to that
of putting a pin through two termites on an entomology display board and
examining them with a magnifying glass."
Part
one is the only one with which I was familiar.
Gulliver is a normal
sized Englishman, but appears to be a giant, having been washed up on
the island of Lilliput, where Lilliputians are six inches high. This
arrival disrupts the nation in so many ways.
Gulliver is amused the Emperor and his court, amazed and amused. How members of the court chosen was a source of delight for Gulliver.
One way
is to watch "rope dancers" compete by jumping on silk threads. The one
who jumps the highest wins, which granting him a high position of
solving problems for the Emperor.
Another
is in appointing a treasurer by requiring competitors to juggle items.
Winner is one who can keep the most items juggling in the air, without
any falling.
Rules
and laws of Lilliput are long, its disputes longer. But perhaps most
interesting of all is a war between Lilliput and Blefuscu, which readers
accurately interpreted as the King of England and King of France. One
is the "big-endians" and the other "small-endians".
The Big. E. believe that one should eat a soft-boiled egg from the big end. The Small E. believe that one should eat the egg from the small end.
Thousands of people of both
islands had been killed in these wars. This senseless slaughter over
eggs is also a veiled comparison to Catholics to Protestants.
Read
it instead of watching a movie about Gulliver, I provided students with the children's version
is easier and I shared it with my students.
The Principal was volunteered to be part of the Gulliver experience. He was about 6 ft. tall and students measured him as he lay on the floor on a strip of butcher paper. To be accurate the students made their own 6" tall character. They used those in the measuring.
This might put any election, and indeed any government, in perspective.
Jonathon Swift.
Perhaps the best movie about Gulliver's Travels is a TV version with Ted Danson.
I provided the work stations for different things done in the book.
I don't know if you can tell how much I loved teaching, reading and creative writing. At back-to-school night, parents walked around with their children and listening to their telling of the book.
Have you ever read the book or seen a movie of it?
Please excuse the length of my post. It is too good to cut the factors that make Gulliver's Travels memorable. So I hope you can pick and choose.... .
Sorry, I just can't read it or watch a movie. At the time in school they wanted me to read it, I think I chose something else, not even sure. I love a good story and all of it fiction and no required brain functioning to figure things out...
ReplyDeleteIt is a good story, book. You don't have to have read it to appreciate its humor and social observations.
Deletei usually write fiction...it is fun to do. this was to tell about something that is a good memory. I loved teaching and this was what I did with a book that was different.
ReplyDeleteIt is vital that literature grip the reader and pull the reader into that world. Then it is equally vital that they carry the words on out to their world.
DeleteI'm ashamed to confess that while I know some of the Gulliver's Travels through excerpts, I've never tackled the book itself. I loved learning about it being a parody of English society in Swift's time. The creativity you showed with the kids when you taught them is so impressive, too. I'll bet many remember you as their favorite teacher. Blessings!
ReplyDeleteOver the years, I actually wanted them to remember not my name, just the lesson.
DeleteNo, never read it or saw the movie. It's cool when a teacher who loves a book teaches it. The students learn something from that enthusiasm.
ReplyDeleteI hope my now-adult students carried some of my love of literature with them.
DeleteGulliver's travels was required reading when I was in school. It led to some good discussions in class.
ReplyDeleteI had never read this book, until sharing it in the classroom.
DeleteI read it years ago, it bears re-reading. It sounds like you taught it amazingly.
ReplyDeleteThat was awesome in so many ways.
DeleteThank you for this recommendation! I have never read the book. I'm not sure I've even seen the movie, although I sort of know the story. But the details you share here are so charming and interesting. I will look forward to this one!
ReplyDeleteDanson and this version is the best, the closest to the book than other versions.
Delete