Gulliver travels theme

Question 1

What idea is Gulliver’s Travels based on?

Answer 1

Misanthropy” – the dislike of humankind.

Question 2

What happens to the theme of misanthropy by the end of the book?

Answer 2

It intensifies, and Gulliver hates humans completely.

Question 3

What are the Yahoos?

Answer 3

Creatures that represent the worst of human nature.

Question 4

How does Gulliver feel about the Yahoos by the end?

Answer 4

He sees himself as one and despises all humans.

Question 5

What does the king of Brobdingnag think of Gulliver’s people?

Answer 5

He thinks they are cruel and vicious, especially after hearing about gunpowder.

Question 6

How are human folly and evil presented in parts 1 and 3 of Gulliver’s Travels?

Answer 6

Through the deviousness, cruelty, and violence of the Lilliputians and the foolishness of the scholars in Laputa.

Question 7

What does the king of Brobdingnag say about England’s history?

Answer 7

He calls it a “heap of conspiracies, rebellions, murders, and the worst effects of human vices.”

Question 8

How are human vices shown in parts 2 and 4?

Answer 8

The king of Brobdingnag and Gulliver’s Houyhnhnm master highlight the specific vices of the English.

Question 9

What human failings are listed by Swift in Gulliver’s Travels?

Answer 9

Avarice, faction, hypocrisy, cruelty, rage, madness, lust, malice, and ambition.

Question 10

What did Swift want to remind people about human understanding?

Answer 10

Humans are not meant to know everything, and understanding has limits.

Question 11

How does Swift attack theoretical knowledge in Gulliver’s Travels?

Answer 11

He satirizes it through the Laputans, who are self-centered and obsessed with private theorizing.

Question 12

What is the satire behind the experiments in the academy of Balnibarbi?

Answer 12

The experiments, like extracting sunbeams from cucumbers, are useless.

Question 13

What is notable about the king of Brobdingnag’s knowledge of political science?

Answer 13

He knows little about political science, yet his country is prosperous and well governed.

Question 13

Why are the societies of Brobdingnag and the Houyhnhnms considered rational in Gulliver’s Travels?

Answer 13

They live wisely without focusing on abstract knowledge.

Question 14

How do the Houyhnhnms use astronomy in a practical way?

Answer 14

They know how long a month is by observing the moon, as it affects their well-being.

Question 14

What does Swift criticize by showing societies like Brobdingnag and the Houyhnhnms?

Answer 14

Pursuing useless knowledge is a waste of time; practical knowledge is more valuable.

Question 15

What kind of knowledge does Swift consider important?

Answer 15

Self-understanding.

Question 16

How does Gulliver show a lack of self-awareness in the story?

Answer 16

He doesn’t talk about his emotions, passions, or dreams, making him difficult to understand.

Question 17

When does Gulliver come close to self-knowledge?

Answer 17

When he identifies himself with the Yahoos and is disgusted by the human condition, including himself.

Question 18

What does Gulliver find in Brobdingnag that resembles a utopia?

Answer 18

No wars, oppression, or corruption; the people are virtuous, moral, and politically wise.

Question 18

What kind of society does Swift introduce in Gulliver’s Travels?

Answer 18

A perfect society with flawless institutions, inspired by ancient Greek ideas.

Question 18

How does the king of Brobdingnag react to Gulliver’s explanation of gunpowder?

Answer 18

He rejects it, reflecting the society’s moral stance.

Question 19

What flaw exists in Brobdingnag society despite its virtues?

Answer 19

They treat Gulliver as a pet or toy, showing their insensitivity.

Question 20

How does Swift explore utopia with the Luggnaggian immortals?

Answer 20

He reveals that old age makes the immortals objects of pity and disgust.