Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift | Simple Summary in less than 12 Minutes

Arpita Karwa9 minutes read

Gulliver's Travels follows Lemuel Gulliver through four journeys to Lilliput, Brobdingnag, Laputa, and the land of the Houyhnhnms, where he encounters unique societies and struggles with his identity upon returning to England, leading him to reject human society and desire to be with the rational horses.

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  • Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift is a satirical work divided into four parts, following Lemuel Gulliver's adventures from England to various fantastical lands, each with distinct societies that serve as critiques of human nature and society.
  • The narrative showcases Gulliver's disillusionment with human society after his travels, leading him to reject human behavior and aspire to live among the rational and noble Houyhnhnms, emphasizing the underlying theme of societal critique and the quest for an ideal civilization.

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  • Who is the protagonist in "Gulliver's Travels"?

    Gulliver

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Gulliver's Travels: Satirical Adventures in Four Parts

  • "Gulliver's Travels" by Jonathan Swift is a satirical work divided into four parts, following the adventures of Lemuel Gulliver, a surgeon turned captain from Nottinghamshire, England.
  • Gulliver's first journey takes him to Lilliput, where he encounters tiny people less than 6 inches tall, the Lilliputians, who initially capture him but later befriend him until a conflict arises over a neighboring kingdom.
  • In Brobdingnag, Gulliver finds himself among giants, being only 60 feet tall himself, and is sold to the queen for entertainment, where he is named "Grildrig" and engages in discussions with the king before escaping back to England.
  • Gulliver's third journey leads him to the floating island of Laputa, where he encounters inhabitants focused on theoretical pursuits, and further visits Lagado, Glubbdubdrib, and Luggnagg before returning to England.
  • The final adventure takes Gulliver to the land of the Houyhnhnms, intelligent horses who rule over the Yahoos, human-like creatures. Despite admiring their rational society, Gulliver is asked to leave as he resembles the Yahoos too closely.
  • Upon returning to England, Gulliver finds himself unable to tolerate human society, viewing them as Yahoos, and desires to be with the Houyhnhnms, even conversing with horses in his stable, marking the end of his travels.
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