6,999 Matching Annotations
  1. Jul 2019
    1. .

      I really appreciate Swift's wit and imagination which make this novel so thought-provoking and fascinating. I also like how he makes use of satire to explore the political and socioeconomic issues affecting the English people in his time. After reading this novel, I have a strong desire to study about the political history of England, which I am not totally familiar of, and I believe that would help me understand this novel better. Overall this is a complex story which deals with various themes such as morality and ethics, society and class, and gender issues. It is a combination of political satire and adventure; on the surface, it seems easy to understand, but actually it is not.

    2. trencher

      a wooden plate or platter

    3. infallibly

      incapable of error

    4. a dish of about four-and-twenty feet diameter

      I like all the detailed measurements described in this novel!

    5. diminutive

      one that is notably small

    6. I lamented my own folly and wilfulness in attempting a second voyage against the advice of all my friends and relations.

      He curses his own stupidity and recklessness in trying a second voyage against all the advice of his friends and relations.

    7. I screamed as loud as fear could make me. Whereupon the huge creature trod short

      He screams with the strength of fear, which makes the huge creature break stride.

    8. turret

      A small tower that is connected to a larger tower.

    9. These people are most excellent mathematicians, and arrived to a great perfection in mechanics

      He keeps thinks he can escape by outdoing them in physical strength, but I think these people might be able to outsmart him.

    10. which probably might not be the worst they could do, and the promise of honor I made them

      I wonder how long he's going to keep that promise.

    11. nd tasted like a small[9] wine of Burgundy, but much more delicious.

      The foods seems distant from any food humans would know.

    12. insatiable

      incapable of being satisfied

    13. six hundred

      I noticed that Swift likes to use this number a lot. Wonder if there's any specific reason for this.

    14. I had reason to believe I might be a match for the greatest army they could bring against me, if they were all of the same size with him that I saw.

      I think he's underestimating these people.

    15. I had the fortune to break the string

      He references fortune a lot.

    16. I walked near a mile

      I wonder if that's accurate or he's exaggerating because he's really weak.

    17. For my own part, I swam as fortune directed me, and was pushed forward by wind and tide

      "As fortune directed me", I think he implies that he swam the direction that he felt was right.

    18. What became of my companions in the boat, as well as those who escaped on the rock, or were left in the vessel, I cannot tell, but conclude they were all lost.

      He is the only survivor from the shipwreck.

    19. The chains that held my left leg were about two yards long, and gave me not only the liberty of walking backwards and forwards in a semi-circle, but, being fixed within four inches of the gate, allowed me to creep in, and lie at my full length in the temple.

      The chains allow him to move immediately around the gate to his temple, so he can lie down inside the building or stand up outside of it.

    20. second daughter to Mr. Edmund Burton

      Swift includes the line of childbirth several times in this story. Does it just show that no one are first born children (the child usually of the most importance)?

    21. On each side of the gate was a small window, not above six inches from the ground; into that on the left side the king’s smith conveyed four score and eleven chains, like those that hang to a lady’s watch in Europe, and almost as large, which were locked to my left leg with six-and-thirty padlocks

      He's kept tied down to the ground as the tiny people build him a set of chains.

    22. studied physic two years and seven months, knowing it would be useful in long voyages

      He studied a lot of medicine and science.

    23. one of them, an officer in the guards, put the sharp end of his half-pike[11] a good way up into my left nostril, which tickled my nose like a straw, and made me sneeze violently; whereupon they stole off

      He wakes up after four hours because one of his guards climbs onto his face and sticks his spear up his left nostril, making him sneeze violently, and the guards sneak off. This is comical!

    24. and my father now and then sending me small sums of money

      He came from a well off family, but his father definitely made his work for money.

    25. HE IS SHIPWRECKED

      I wonder why he was taken prisoner. Was is just because he was a traveler that arrived in a new land?

    26. I lay in a profound sleep

      He falls asleep again haha

    27. the first words I learnt were to express my desire that he would please give me my liberty, which I every day repeated on my knees.

      The first words he learns from the emperor are to ask the emperor to set him free, which he begs him every day on his knees.

    28. they were passing backwards and forwards on my body

      It's interesting that these tiny people seem totally fine with climbing onto his body and walking around even though he's a giant to them.

    29. hogsheads

      Guess which size of hogsheads they are using?

    30. My little friend Grildrig, you have made a most admirable panegyric upon your country; you have clearly proved that ignorance, idleness, and vice are the proper ingredients for qualifying a legislator; that laws are best explained, interpreted, and applied by those whose interest and abilities lie in perverting, confounding, and eluding them.

    31. He laughed at my odd kind of arithmetic (as he was pleased to call it), in reckoning the numbers of our people by a computation drawn from the several sects among us, in religion and politics. He said, he knew no reason why those who entertain opinions prejudicial to the public should be obliged to change, or should not be obliged to conceal them. And as it was tyranny in any government to require the first, so it was weakness not to enforce the second: for a man may be allowed to keep poisons in his closet, but not to vend them about for cordials.

    32. I banged it a good while with one of my sculls, and at last forced it to leap out of the boat.

    33. The horrible animals had the boldness to attack me both sides, and one of them held his forefeet at my collar; but I killed him before he could do me any mischief.

    34. Here I walked on for some time, but could see little on either side, it being now near harvest, and the corn rising at least forty feet. I was an hour walking to the end of this field, which was fenced in with a hedge of at least one hundred and twenty feet high, and the trees so lofty that I could make no computation of their altitude.

    35. I drew out my hanger, and flourished with it, after the manner of fencers in England

    36. My mistress had a daughter of nine years old, a child of toward parts for her age, very dexterous at her needle, and skilful in dressing her baby.

    37. but this gracious princess held out her little finger towards me, after I was set on a table, which I embraced in both my arms, and put the tip of it with the utmost respect to my lip.

    38. They found by my eating that a small quantity would not suffice me

      This scene would be hilarious on screen. Imagine how tiny the food is.

    39. I could not forbear showing my impatience (perhaps against the strict rules of decency) by putting my finger frequently to my mouth, to signify that I wanted food

      He must be hungry to death.

    40. They supplied me as they could, showing a thousand marks of wonder and astonishment at my bulk and appetite

      The tiny people are amazed at how much Gulliver can eat lol

    41. .

      A very funky story. This seems to me to be the only fiction or fantasy piece we have read and it does not disappoint on the crazy factor. Honestly, I would not be surprised to find out the author wrote this based on a crazy dream or drug induced hallucination. However, the story was plain enough to enjoy and understand. The creativity was praiseworthy. I find the lack of desire to be with his family (compared to the desire to adventure, sail, and make money) saddening. But, at least the ending satisfied this.

    42. Undoubtedly philosophers are in the right when they tell us that nothing is great or little otherwise than by comparison

      Yes, we form our ideas of qualities based on relativity. What is large to an ant is small to a human, what is large to a human wight be tiny to a giant. What is hot to a Londoner might be cold to a Texan (just to throw in some current events).

    43. shift

      I find it interesting that the author chooses to use "shift" in stead of "turn" or "took at turn."

    44. reaping-hooks

      also known as a sickle.

    45. Whereupon seven monsters, like himself,

      He is showing his terror of the giants with verbiage such as "monster." He is not necessarily meaning an evil, vicious creature, but something deformed or abnormal, scary.

    46. but that which first surprised me was the length of the grass, which, in those grounds that seemed to be kept for hay, was about twenty feet high.

      Sounds like someone should really invest in a good lawn mower or a landscaping service.

    47. I saw our men already got into the boat, and rowing for life to the ship.

      Was he abandoned

    48. league

      about 3 miles

    49. Molucca Islands

      Maluku islands (spice islands). A group of islands of eastern Indonesia between Sulawesi and New Guinea. Inhabited by various Malay and Papuan peoples, the islands were colonized first by the Portuguese in the 1500s and later fell to the Dutch in the 1600s. The Moluccas, long known as the "Spice Islands," have historically provided much of the world's cloves, nutmeg, and mace.

    50. ague

      malaria or some other illness involving fever and shivering.

    51. wintered

      spend the winter in a particular place.

    52. Cape of Good Hope,

      This is located on the coast of southern Africa, though not the southern tip of Africa.

    53. gale

      Strong wind, probably carrying the sail and in turn the boat, speeding travel.

    54. Captain John Nicholas, a Cornish man, commander,

      Again, is he a captain or commander? Or maybe both?

    55. .

      All I can say thus far is it is very strange. It started quite tame with a description of a normal life but that quickly departed. Interested to see where this goes.

    56. I again left my native country

      I find this way of saying he left his him interesting and clear in showing his priorities. He did not leave his family or his home, rather he left his native country. Obviously his focus is on travel, not on comfort or family.

    57. I perceived it to be a human creature, not six inches high, with a bow and arrow in his hands, and a quiver at his back.

      This is reminding me of the tiny Roman figurines in The Night at the Museum.

    58. the light offended my eyes

      A little personification here, giving the eyes the ability to be offended.

    59. abated

      (of something perceived as hostile, threatening, or negative) become less intense or widespread. https://www.google.com/search?q=abated&oq=abated&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.1567j0j9&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

    60. three leagues

      Three nautical leagues is about ten miles.

    61. On the fifth of November, which was the beginning of summer in those parts,

      The seasons are flipped on the southern hemisphere. December is mid-summer and August mid-winter.

    62. Van Diemen’s Land

      A common European name for Tasmania (a part of Australia) before 1856.

    63. Wapping

      A district of Eastern London This is an image of Wapping, though it probably did not look like this at the time of publication.

    64. The last of these voyages not proving very fortunate, I grew weary of the sea

      Though smart, obviously a man driven and motivated by money and little else.

    65. My hours of leisure I spent in reading the best authors, ancient and modern, being always provided with a good number of books; and, when I was ashore, in observing the manners and dispositions of the people, as well as learning their language, wherein I had a great facility, by the strength of my memory.

      Obviously a smart man. A surgeon, reader, and easily understands or learns new languages.

    66. for six years

      How hard it must be to spend six years away from your husband or wife.

    67. But my good master, Bates, dying in two years after, and I having few friends, my business began to fail;

      It is not what you know, it is who you know.

    68. Leyden

      This is either a county in Illinois (probably not) or Leiden, a city in Holland (more likely). Or, of course, this could be another fictional location.

    69. Captain Abraham Pannell, commander

      So is he a Captain or Commander?

    70. COUNTRY OF LILLIPUT;

      A fictional place.

    71. daubed

      covered

    72. A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT

      Lemuel Gulliver in Lilliput

    73. A VOYAGE TO BROBDINGNAG

      Gulliver in Brobdingnag

    74. extenuate

      lessen

    75. impeachment

      charge

    76. verbal license

      verbal permission

    77. magistrate

      an official entrusted with administration of the laws

    78. That all true believers break their eggs at the convenient end.

      kind of like a religious doctrine

    79. Blundecral

      their holy book

    80. obstinate

      not easily subdued, remedied, or removed

    81. intestine disquiets

      internal struggles

    82. animosities

      a strong feeling of dislike or hatred

    83. the high and low heels of their shoes

      High heels: symbolic of the English Tories; low heels: symbolic of the English Whigs

    84. Tolgo phonac

      It is an order to attack or fire arrows; "Let go! Vomit!"

    85. conjectured

      guessed

    86. Van Diemen’s Land

      Tasmania in Australia

    87. I accepted an advantageous offer from Captain William Prichard, master of the “Antelope,”

      Captain William Prichard offering Gulliver the opportunity to board the Antelope.

    88. hosier

      One who deals in hose (stockings and socks), or in goods knitted or woven like hose, such as undergarments, jerseys, cardigans, and the like.

    89. Captain Abraham Pannell

      Gulliver's first employer

    90. Mrs. Mary Burton

      It was formerly the custom to call unmarried women Mrs.

    91. schisms

      formal division in or separation from a church or religious body

    92. It is allowed on all hands, that the primitive way of breaking eggs, before we eat them, was upon the larger end; but his present majesty’s grandfather, while he was a boy, going to eat an egg, and breaking it according to the ancient practice, happened to cut one of his fingers. Whereupon the emperor, his father, published an edict, commanding all his subjects, upon great penalties, to break the smaller end of their eggs.

      Traditionally, Lilliputians broke boiled eggs on the larger end; a few generations ago, an Emperor of Lilliput, the present emperor's great-grandfather, had decreed that all eggs be broken on the smaller end after his son cut himself breaking the egg on the larger end.

    93. Lilliput and Blefuscu

      are two fictional island nations neighboring in the South Indian Ocean, separated by a channel 800 yards wide.

      Map of Lilliput and Blefuscu showing the location in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of Sumatra:

    94. pulling

      plucking and drawing, preparatory to cooking

    95. meaner

      of lower rank

    96. portion

      the part of an estate given to a child

    97. domestic

      the household and all pertaining thereto

    98. exchequer bills

      bills of credit issued from the exchequer by authority of parliament, for example, this is a 1709 Bank Of England Exchequer Bill:

    99. cabal

      a body of men united for some sinister purpose

    100. lee side

      side sheltered from the wind

    101. ancient

      flag, corrupted from ensign

    102. Downs

      A famous natural roadstead off the southeast coast of Kent, between Goodwin Sands and the mainland, south of the Thames entrance

    103. Black Bull

      inns in England are often named after animals with an adjective descriptive of the color of the sign; as, The Golden Lion, The White Horse.

    104. towardly

      apt, docile

    105. Straits of Madagascar

      Mozambique Channel

    106. the line

      the equator

    107. hinds

      peasants; rustics

    108. pistoles

      about three dollars and sixty cents

    109. discovering

      showing

    110. from London Bridge to Chelsea

      about three miles as the birds fly

    111. pillion

      a cushion for a woman to ride on behind a person on horseback. From London to St. Alban's: about twenty miles

    112. pumpion

      pumpkin

    113. parts

      accomplishments

    114. Sanson’s Atlas

      a very large atlas by a French geographer in use in Swift's time

    115. as good a hand of me

      as much money of me

    116. moidores

      a Portuguese gold piece worth about six dollars

    117. guineas

      an obsolete English gold coin, of the value of five dollars

      Here's a five Guinea coin, James II, Great Britain, 1688:

    118. phoenix

      a bird of fable said to live for a long time and rise anew from its own ashes

    119. cabinet

      a private room

    120. scrutoire

      a writing-desk

    121. waiting

      attendance on the king

    122. lusus naturae

      a freak of nature

    123. Royal Sovereign

      one of the great ships of Swift's time

    124. Dunstable lark

      large larks are caught on the downs near Dunstable between September and February, and sent to London for luxurious tables

    125. drones

      the largest tube of a bag-pipe, giving forth a dull heavy tone

    126. Gresham College

      Gresham College is named after the founder, an English merchant, who died in 1580.

      Gresham College, engraving by George Vertue, 1740:

    127. Salisbury steeple

      this is about four hundred feet high

    128. battalia

      the order of battle

    129. espalier

      a lattice upon which fruit-trees or shrubs are trained

    130. sculls

      short oars

    131. starboard[70] or larboard

      right or left

    132. corking-pin

      a larger-sized pin

    133. stomacher

      a broad belt

    134. varlet

      knave

    135. levee

      a ceremonious visit received by a distinguished person in the morning

    136. spinet

      a stringed instrument, a forerunner of out piano

    137. closet

      private room

    138. signal

      memorable

    139. chancery

      a high court of equity

    140. glossing

      commenting

    141. Dionysius Halicarnassensis

      Dionysius Halicarnassensis was born about the middle of the first century, B.C.; he endeavored in his history to relieve his Greek countrymen from the mortification they had felt in their subjection to the Romans, and patched up an old legend about Rome being of Greek origin and therefore their "political mother."

    142. ideas, entities, abstractions, and transcendentals

      words used in that philosophy which deals with thinking, existence, and things beyond the senses

    143. mercurial

      active, spirited

    144. composition

      compact, agreement

    145. PROGRESS

      an old term for the travelling of the sovereign to different parts of his country

    146. tumbrel

      a rough cart

    147. page

      a serving-boy, and especially one who waits on a person of rank

    148. quarry

      prey

    149. squash

      shock, concussion

    150. to rights

      speedily

    151. to make

      to get alongside

    152. .

      Interesting last reading! We get to see history of Gulliver, his family background, and his struggles. It is amazing to see his life and get a deep understanding of the character. As all of the reading done so far in this class, this reading also provided some strong imagery through out part I. The story provided another perspective of battling in a nation through Gulliver's life.

    153. eleven thousand persons have, at several times, suffered death, rather than submit to break their eggs at the smaller end

      Thats funny and interesting

    154. Langro debul san

      Lilliputian language. Tolgo Phonac Lill. not defined: in context, appears to be an order to attack or fire arrows; "Let go! Vomit!" or "Let go vomit!"

    155. Hekinah degul

      “Degul”, writes Rothman, is the Hebrew word for “flag”, and the verb “hikinah” in Hebrew means “to transfer, impart, or give”. “Thus,” writes Rothman, “one might deduce that Hekinah Degul pronounces a militant stance, offers a display of colours, and urges Gulliver's capitulation to the Lilliputian flag.”

    156. Gulliver’s Travels 

      Gulliver's Travels, or Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. In Four Parts. By Lemuel Gulliver, First a Surgeon, and then a Captain of Several Ships is a prose satire of 1726 by the Irish writer and clergyman Jonathan Swift, satirising both human nature and the "travellers' tales" literary subgenre.

    157. Jonathan Swift

      "Born on November 30, 1667, Irish author, clergyman and satirist Jonathan Swift grew up fatherless. Under the care of his uncle, he received a bachelor's degree from Trinity College and then worked as a statesman's assistant. Eventually, he became dean of St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin. Most of his writings were published under pseudonyms. He best remembered for his 1726 book Gulliver's Travels."

    158. Europe

      Probably referring to the thirty years war. One of the deadliest wars in European history, with over 8 million casualties. It was mainly due to religious conflict following the Protestant Reformation

    159. In a little time, I and my family and friends came to a right understanding: but my wife protested I should never go to sea any more; although my evil destiny so ordered, that she had not power to hinder me, as the reader may know hereafter. In the meantime I here conclude the second part of my unfortunate voyages.

      He finds his way home and it takes him a while to get accustomed back to his normal life. His wife never wants him to go to sea anymore. Overall this was an easy read and I enjoyed it!

    160. ome of them upon hearing me talk so wildly thought I was mad; others laughed; for indeed it never came into my head that I was now got among people of my own stature and strength. The carpenter came, and in a few minutes sawed a passage about four feet square, then let down a small ladder upon which I mounted, and from thence was taken into the ship in a very weak condition.

      Gulliver is saved by his own people and boards their ship

    161. was so weak and bruised in the sides

      I feel bad! He's just getting treated like crap wherever he goes but even more so now because he is being tortured

    162. The farmer observed it, and, concluding I must soon die, resolved to make as good a hand of me[53] as he could.

      the farmer saw Gulliver's condition and wanted to make as much money as he could before Gulliver dies

    163. hanger

      sword

    164. He appeared as tall as an ordinary spire steeple, and took about ten yards at every stride, as near as I could guess. I was struck with the utmost fear and astonishment, and ran to hide myself in the corn, from whence I saw him at the top of the stile, looking back into the next field on the right hand, and heard him call in a voice many degrees louder than a speaking trumpet; but the noise was so high in the air that at first I certainly thought it was thunder.

      now he is the little guy and scared so he hides

    165. would please to spare your life, and only give orders to put out both your eyes

      Reldresal was able to reduce Gulliver's sentence and spare his life by only giving orders to pull out both of his eyes

    166. They look upon fraud as a greater crime than theft, and therefore seldom fail to punish it with death; for they allege, that care and vigilance, with a very common understanding, may preserve a man’s goods from thieves, but honesty has no fence against superior cunning; and, since it is necessary that there should be a perpetual intercourse of buying and selling, and dealing upon credit, where fraud is permitted and connived at, or hath no law to punish it, the honest dealer is always undone, and the knave gets the advantage

      Anyone who falsely accuses someone of a crime is put to death because they consider lying to be far worse than a theft because a honest person is more vulnerable to a liar than a thief.

    167. abhorrence

      inspiring disgust and loathing; repugnant

    168. I desired the secretary to present my humble duty to the emperor, and to let him know that I thought it would not become me, who was a foreigner, to interfere with parties; but I was ready, with the hazard of my life, to defend his person and state against all invaders.

      He didn't want to interfere btwn the two parties but regardless, he is ready to help defend Lilliput

    169. eleven thousand persons have, at several times, suffered death, rather than submit to break their eggs at the smaller end

      pshhh haha crazy!

    170. swore and subscribed to the articles with great cheerfulness and content, although some of them were not so honorable as I could have wished; which proceeded wholly from the malice of Skyrris Bolgolam, the high admiral; whereupon my chains were immediately unlocked, and I was at full liberty.

      he swore to all the articles and was set free

    171. ave an account of my behavior to the six criminals above-mentioned, which made so favorable an impression in the breast of his majesty, and the whole board, in my behalf, that an imperial commission was issued out

      Thank goodness he did the right thing by setting the men free because it literally saved his life and instead they choose to treat him with kindness.

    172. Six hundred beds,

      I like how Swift goes into detail throughout the story to show us how big Gulliver is by telling us it took 600 beds to make one for him...This is one BIG guy!

    173. I made a countenance as if I would eat him alive. The poor man squalled terribly, and the colonel and his officers were in much pain, especially when they saw me take out my penknife; but I soon put them out of fear, for, looking mildly, and immediately cutting the strings he was bound with, I set him gently on the ground, and away he ran. I treated the rest in the same manner, taking them one by one out of my pocket; and I observed both the soldiers and people were highly delighted at this mark of my clemency, which was represented very much to my advantage at court.

      They thought Gulliver was going to eat the 6 men but instead they are pleased to see that he pulls out a penknife and sets them all free.

    174. I confess, I was often tempted, while they were passing backwards and forwards on my body, to seize forty or fifty of the first that came in my reach, and dash them against the ground. But the remembrance of what I had felt, which probably might not be the worst they could do, and the promise of honor I made them

      Gulliver was tempted to get a hold of 40-50 of the little people and throw them to the ground but remembers the promise he made them. He decides not to and instead is grateful for their hospitality.

    175. declivity

      downward slope

    176. my business began to fail;

      his success depended of Mr. Bates?

    177. whom I received four hundred pounds for a portion.

      wait did he get money for marrying Mrs. Burton?

    178. fourteen years old,

      Okay, so while doing the writing project 3, I read that Roger Ascham attended college at the age of fourteen as well, but didn't quite understand if it was a true possible thing. So I guess it was possible back then.

    179. I was the third of five sons.

      Sounds similar to me. I am the third of five daughters.

    180. .

      Is this like the preface of each chapter?

    181. junto

      a body of men secretly united to gain some political end

    182. puissant

      powerful

    183. discompose

      displace

    184. embargo

      an order not to sail

    185. Alcoran

      the Koran or Mohammedan Bible

    186. skirts

      coat-tail

    187. quadrant

      an instrument long used for measuring altitudes

    188. trencher

      a wooden plate or platter

    189. a pocket perspective

      a small spy-glass or telescope

    190. lucid

      shining; transparent

    191. Imprimis

      in the first place

    192. fobs

      small pockets in the waistband of trousers to receive a watch.

    193. Lingua Franca

      a language—Italian mixed with Arabic, Greek, and Turkish—used by Frenchmen, Spaniards, and Italians trading with Arabs, Turks, and Greeks. It is the commercial language of Constantinople.

    194. crest

      a decoration to denote rank

    195. chairs

      a sedan chair is here meant. It held one person, and was carried by two men by means of projecting poles.

    196. stang

      an old word for a perch, sixteen feet and a half, also for a rood of ground

    197. half-pike

      a short wooden staff, upon one end of which was a steel head

    198. signet-royal

      the king's seal

    199. buff jerkin

      a leather jacket or waistcoat

    1. uarter of an ell long

      Approximately the length of a mans arm, from elbow to middle finger or about 18 inches