Chapter 9
Gulliver returns to Maldonada and sets sail for Luggnagg. When he arrives, he is confined and questioned. He tells them he is from Holland, trying to make his way to Japan and eventually back to Holland. He hires an interpreter from the ship. Soon he is called for by the King. It is the custom to lick the floor on the approach to the throne. For him, the floor was cleaned but enemies of the court often had to lick a very dusty floor. In extreme cases, when nobles had to be executed, a poisonous dust was placed on the floor. If the floor is not washed well after executions, unforntunat deaths can occur. So Gulliver meets the king and compliments him as is the custom. by saying, "Outlive the sun." They get along so well Gullliver is given a room in the court, all of his meals and gold. But after three months of this, Gulliver starts thinking of his wife and family.
Chapter 10
Gulliver learns about the struldbruggs or immortals. It is a rare occurrence when a child is born with a red dot over his left eyebrow. This grows is size and changes color from red to green to blue to black. Gulliver thinks it would be great to live forever and talks about what he would do: become very rich , study everything, and record historical events. He would warn and instruct mankind to prevent continual corruption. Long life was discussed as the universal wish of mankind; death as the greatest evil. But eternal life comes with disadvantages because one does not have eternal youth. These struldbruggs acted like mortals until age 30 and then became melancholy. By age 80, they had all the infirmities of other old men but even worse, the dreadful prospect of never dying. They were jealous of people who could die and get some rest. Those who managed the best were those who lost their memories. By age 80, they were dead in the eyes of the law - incapable of working, unable to buy land or vote etc. At 90, they lost their teeth, their hair, their ability to taste. Diseases were prevalent. They couldn't read as their memories failed. They couldn't understand the language of most people since language always changes. They were forabidden to leave their country for fear they would take over the whole nation and with their inability to manage, ruin the world. So.....be careful what you ask for. All I really ever want is another day. I wonder if the day will come for me that this is no longer true.
Chapter 11
Gulliver leaves Luggnagg with a letter from the king and arrives in Japan after a 15 day journey. He pretends to be Dutch and pretends to be non-Christian which satisfies both the Japanese and the Dutch who take him to Holland. From Holland, he sails home to England. He had been gone 5 1/2 years. His wife and family, in good health, welcome him home. END OF PART 3!!
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
Chapter 2
The Laputans have reclining heads, one inward turning eye, clothing decorated with celestial figures and musical instruments. Some have slaves with flappers (bladders containing small pebbles) that are used to rouse their memories by a light tap on the mouth, ear etc. Gulliver met the King of this floating island. He was fed (all food is cut in the shape of triangles, rhomboids etc.) He was taught their language and had tailor-made clothes (not well done). The King decided to move the island to Lagado, the capital city. Along the way, petitions from subjects of other towns were received by lowering strings down to the people who wrote notes and often sent up food and drink by a series of pulleys. Their major interest was music and mathematics as well as news and politics. Their constant fear was that the sun would be wholly consumed and the earth would be destroyed. The women were not so content to remian on this island and wanted to see the rest of the world. On occasion, a woman was allowed to go down for a visit and didn't want to return. After a months time, Gulliver could converse with the King who asked him questions only about science and math.
Chapter 3
This floating island is circular with a 4 1/2 mile diameter equalling 10,000 acres. The bottom is made of thick iron-rich soil/rock. A chasm in the center top collects rain but it can rise above the clouds if there is too much rain. A magnet is suspended in this chasm and can be turned to attact or repell the island to/from the earth as well as hover in place. The people who man the magnet are great astromoners with powerful telescopes. The King controls the people down below his floating island by hovering over them to deprive them of sun and water, pelting them with stones or even destroying the whole town by squashing them with the floating island. One city, Lindalino, rebelled and built towers, topped with magnets, hoping to attract the floating island and crack the bottom layerof soil/rock, thus destroying it. The astronomers were able to keep the island afloat but the King was forced to give the town their own conditions. The King and two eldest sons are not allowed to leave the island; the queen can leave when she is no longer of child-bearing age.
Chapter 4
After two months, Gulliver asks to leave this floating island of disagreeable companions. He was let down in Lagado on the coninnent of Balnibarbi with a letter recommendation for an ex-governor named Munodi. Munodi had been discharged as governor due to his inability to adapt to the new methods of farming, building etc. The new ideas, started about 40 years ago, promised wondrous improvements but to date, the homes were poorly built, the people were poorly clothed, the fields yielded little food. Munodi still had his old country home where everything ran smoothly, using the old-fashinied methods.
Chapter 5
Gulliver visits their Academy and finds people working on all sorts of projects: extracting sunbeams from cucumbers, changing human excrement back to food, identifying colors of paint by smell and feel, etc. Another part of the Academy was less scientific. Projects included writing books by tossing words in a frame to find groups of words that made at least broken sentences, eliminating all parts of speech except nouns, even eliminating all speech and just carrying around actual nouns (women objected to this), eating papers with math problems written on them to help solve the comptutions. Nothing was really working but they were hopeful and persistent.
Chapter 6
Gulliver discusses more Academy schemes. Ways to reward merit, remedies for diseases, voting for the good of all by being exactly opposite, transplanting 1/2 of another's brain into another to equal moderation, taxing either vices or best qualities. For example, women would be taxed according to their beauty and style of dress as determined by their own judgment. Excrements would be examined to determine a person's thoughts. Gulliver told them of his suggestions: Suspected political meanings would be determined by scrambling the letters to form new sentences.
Chapter 7
Gulliver decides to leave Lagado for Maldonado. As he waits for a ship to take him there, he travels to a small island, Glubbdubdrib. It is an island of magicians where all the servants are ghosts. The governor is always the eldest person on the island. Gulliver was allowed to call up any persons from the dead and ask them questions. He chose people such as Alexander the Great, Hannibal, Caesar and Brutus. Who would you ask for?
Chapter 8
Gulliver describes Homer as handsome and erect as compared to a thin Aristotle needing a cane. He presented them to others philosophers such as Descartes. Gulliver discovered that the ancestors of kings were often only fiddlers and barbers. He became disgusted when learning how the world had been misled by leaders without wisdom or integrity. He learned the truth about many great events - often lucky accidents. Mostly there has been fraud, betrayals, degenerate vices and corruption throughout history.
The Laputans have reclining heads, one inward turning eye, clothing decorated with celestial figures and musical instruments. Some have slaves with flappers (bladders containing small pebbles) that are used to rouse their memories by a light tap on the mouth, ear etc. Gulliver met the King of this floating island. He was fed (all food is cut in the shape of triangles, rhomboids etc.) He was taught their language and had tailor-made clothes (not well done). The King decided to move the island to Lagado, the capital city. Along the way, petitions from subjects of other towns were received by lowering strings down to the people who wrote notes and often sent up food and drink by a series of pulleys. Their major interest was music and mathematics as well as news and politics. Their constant fear was that the sun would be wholly consumed and the earth would be destroyed. The women were not so content to remian on this island and wanted to see the rest of the world. On occasion, a woman was allowed to go down for a visit and didn't want to return. After a months time, Gulliver could converse with the King who asked him questions only about science and math.
Chapter 3
This floating island is circular with a 4 1/2 mile diameter equalling 10,000 acres. The bottom is made of thick iron-rich soil/rock. A chasm in the center top collects rain but it can rise above the clouds if there is too much rain. A magnet is suspended in this chasm and can be turned to attact or repell the island to/from the earth as well as hover in place. The people who man the magnet are great astromoners with powerful telescopes. The King controls the people down below his floating island by hovering over them to deprive them of sun and water, pelting them with stones or even destroying the whole town by squashing them with the floating island. One city, Lindalino, rebelled and built towers, topped with magnets, hoping to attract the floating island and crack the bottom layerof soil/rock, thus destroying it. The astronomers were able to keep the island afloat but the King was forced to give the town their own conditions. The King and two eldest sons are not allowed to leave the island; the queen can leave when she is no longer of child-bearing age.
Chapter 4
After two months, Gulliver asks to leave this floating island of disagreeable companions. He was let down in Lagado on the coninnent of Balnibarbi with a letter recommendation for an ex-governor named Munodi. Munodi had been discharged as governor due to his inability to adapt to the new methods of farming, building etc. The new ideas, started about 40 years ago, promised wondrous improvements but to date, the homes were poorly built, the people were poorly clothed, the fields yielded little food. Munodi still had his old country home where everything ran smoothly, using the old-fashinied methods.
Chapter 5
Gulliver visits their Academy and finds people working on all sorts of projects: extracting sunbeams from cucumbers, changing human excrement back to food, identifying colors of paint by smell and feel, etc. Another part of the Academy was less scientific. Projects included writing books by tossing words in a frame to find groups of words that made at least broken sentences, eliminating all parts of speech except nouns, even eliminating all speech and just carrying around actual nouns (women objected to this), eating papers with math problems written on them to help solve the comptutions. Nothing was really working but they were hopeful and persistent.
Chapter 6
Gulliver discusses more Academy schemes. Ways to reward merit, remedies for diseases, voting for the good of all by being exactly opposite, transplanting 1/2 of another's brain into another to equal moderation, taxing either vices or best qualities. For example, women would be taxed according to their beauty and style of dress as determined by their own judgment. Excrements would be examined to determine a person's thoughts. Gulliver told them of his suggestions: Suspected political meanings would be determined by scrambling the letters to form new sentences.
Chapter 7
Gulliver decides to leave Lagado for Maldonado. As he waits for a ship to take him there, he travels to a small island, Glubbdubdrib. It is an island of magicians where all the servants are ghosts. The governor is always the eldest person on the island. Gulliver was allowed to call up any persons from the dead and ask them questions. He chose people such as Alexander the Great, Hannibal, Caesar and Brutus. Who would you ask for?
Chapter 8
Gulliver describes Homer as handsome and erect as compared to a thin Aristotle needing a cane. He presented them to others philosophers such as Descartes. Gulliver discovered that the ancestors of kings were often only fiddlers and barbers. He became disgusted when learning how the world had been misled by leaders without wisdom or integrity. He learned the truth about many great events - often lucky accidents. Mostly there has been fraud, betrayals, degenerate vices and corruption throughout history.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Part III A Voyage to Laputa, Balnibarbi, Glubbdubdrib, Luggnagg and Japan
Chapter One:
Gulliver decides to hire on as a surgeon on a ship going to the East Indies. While the captain was waiting for supplies in Tonguin, Gulliver captained a small sloop with a crew of 14. Of course, there was a storm and then two pirate ships captured his sloop, took his crew and put him adrift in a canoe. He sailed to several islands and met up with people who sounded as if they spoke Italian (is this a coincidence?) and lived on a flying island that could be moved and raised.
Gulliver decides to hire on as a surgeon on a ship going to the East Indies. While the captain was waiting for supplies in Tonguin, Gulliver captained a small sloop with a crew of 14. Of course, there was a storm and then two pirate ships captured his sloop, took his crew and put him adrift in a canoe. He sailed to several islands and met up with people who sounded as if they spoke Italian (is this a coincidence?) and lived on a flying island that could be moved and raised.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
CHAPTER 7 - 8 by MJ
CH. 7 Gulliver was not always truthful in describing his country. He hid the frailities and glorified the virtues (Isn't he just like the rest of us?). He offered to show the king how to make gun powder that could destroy all enemies but the king thought this was an inhuman idea. The king ruled by common sense and reason. Farmers were more important than politicians (Vote for Farmer Fred!). Gulliver was able to read some of their books by walking across the pages. One book was about the weaknesses of man - other creatures are stronger, faster, have more foresight, more industry. The king's army is composed of tradesmen and farmers led by nobility for no money or reward. The nobility want power; the people want liberty and the king wants absolute dominion. Occasional civil wars were bound to happen.
CH. 8 The king was hoping for another ship to land cotaining a wife for Gulliver. Gullliver worried they would be kept in cages as curiosities. He was getting tired of constant fear of being accidentally stepped on and killed. It was time to think of leaving after two years in this country. On a trip;with the king and queen, the farmer's daughter was ill so a page took Gulliver to the coast for fresh air and left him sleeping in his carrying box as he looked for bird's eggs on the shore. Gulliver's box was picked up by (most likely) an eagle and then dropped into the ocean. Gulliver could not lift the roof of this box but was able to stick a handkerchief on a stick outside a ceiling window as he yelled for help. An English ship picked him up. He was somehow at least a hundred leagues from shore. Gulliver convinced them of his adventures by showing them the comb made from the king's whiskers, a gold ring the queen had given him, his pants made out of mouse's skin and a footman's tooth. Gulliver was talking very loudly and was so astonished at the tiny sizes of dishes, foods, people etc. After 9 months at sea, Gulliver was back in England with his family. His wife thought by should never go to sea again.
What kind of people will he meet on his next adventure? What I'll remember most about this section: We all see our flaws in comparison to others. There really is no "normal" because we are all unique and we are all the same. There will always be someone smarter, duller, prettier, uglier, bigger, smaller, kinder, meaner etc. So just be yourself. It's enough to just be.....
CH. 8 The king was hoping for another ship to land cotaining a wife for Gulliver. Gullliver worried they would be kept in cages as curiosities. He was getting tired of constant fear of being accidentally stepped on and killed. It was time to think of leaving after two years in this country. On a trip;with the king and queen, the farmer's daughter was ill so a page took Gulliver to the coast for fresh air and left him sleeping in his carrying box as he looked for bird's eggs on the shore. Gulliver's box was picked up by (most likely) an eagle and then dropped into the ocean. Gulliver could not lift the roof of this box but was able to stick a handkerchief on a stick outside a ceiling window as he yelled for help. An English ship picked him up. He was somehow at least a hundred leagues from shore. Gulliver convinced them of his adventures by showing them the comb made from the king's whiskers, a gold ring the queen had given him, his pants made out of mouse's skin and a footman's tooth. Gulliver was talking very loudly and was so astonished at the tiny sizes of dishes, foods, people etc. After 9 months at sea, Gulliver was back in England with his family. His wife thought by should never go to sea again.
What kind of people will he meet on his next adventure? What I'll remember most about this section: We all see our flaws in comparison to others. There really is no "normal" because we are all unique and we are all the same. There will always be someone smarter, duller, prettier, uglier, bigger, smaller, kinder, meaner etc. So just be yourself. It's enough to just be.....
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Chapters 2 to 6 by M.J.
CH. 2
The farmer's nine year old daughter takes care of Gulliver, making him a cradle, sewing him clothes. The farmer decides to show him off on market day so carries him in a box to a nearby town. He performs 12 times that first day - 30 people viewing each time. He answered questions, flourished his sword, drank liquor to their health etc. He was almost killed by a hazel nut thrown by a school boy. Neighbors heard about him and came to the farmer's house. The farmer decided to take the show on the road - to all the major cities in the kingdom. After two months, the travelling show starts. The daughter comes along to care for him but he is kept fast by leading strings like a puppet when he is out of his box. He was shown ten times a day to the "wonder and satisfaction of all people."
CH. 3
Gulliver is losing weight and feeling ill from all the travelling and acting. The Queen buys him for 1000 pieces of gold. the farmer's daughter stays with him at court. He was examined by scholars who determined he was carnivorous, a grown man with a beard; others thought he might be an embryo or an aborted birth. He was given a box for an apartment as well as furniture and clothes. He dines with the queen and two princesses. The king makes fun of his country and their ways and Gulliver had to agree with some of it. The queen's dwarf was hpppy to have someone smaller to kick around. He tormented Gulliver by tossing him in a bowl of cream , almost drowning him. He also stuck him into a marrow bone. Gulliver was mostly afraid and disgusted with the flies that left excrement on his food. They also stung him. He fought them off with his knife. Wasps also entered his apartment to steal his cake and sting him. He killed some and saved their stingers (later donated to Gresham College).
CH. 4
Gulliver travelled around about 2000 of the 6000 miles country and discoverd a great mistake in the English maps. This country is situated between Japan and Califonria and attached to the northern part of America. It is a peninsula with 30 mile high volcanic mountains in the north east and ocean on the other 3 sides. No seaports - rough water and jagged rocks so they are excluded from travelling to other countries. The fish are too small to make it worth their while to catch but occasionally feast on a whale that gets beached. Fortunately, the country produces vast quantities of large plants and animals for food. The country has about 600,000 people with 51 cities, 100 walled towns and many villages. The king's palace is 7 miles round with rooms 140 feet high. Gulliver describes beggars he meets- cancers, wooden legs and lice with snouts like pigs. He travels in a small box complete with furniture and windows for viewing . It can be strapped onto a rider's waist if the travellers go by horseback. Otherwise, it is held in the farmer's daughter's lap. He describes the magnificent chief temple and tower with the marble statues. He describes the king's kitchen with it's great oven and the king's stables with over 600 horses. All in all, this is a rich land.
CH. 5
Gulliver talks about his misadventures - knocked down by apples falling from a tree, bombarded by hailstones, picked up by a small dog, food snatached from his hand by a bird. The farmer's daughter's friends play with him as a doll, stripping him naked and letting him see them naked too. He was not fond of their smells or their skin which appeared coarse to his eyes. The queen had a rowing boat and trough of water made for him so he could get exercise. Once a frog jumped in his boat and almost capsized it. Once a monkey reached in his box and took him to the roof top, squeezing him, feeding him and eventually leaving him up there. He was rescued; the monkey was killed. He once landed in the middle of a frsh cow pattie while trying to jump over it. All these stories kept the court entertained.
CH. 6
Gulliver makes himself a comb from the king's whiskers and chair cushions and a purse from the queen's hair. He can only enjoy music concerts from a great distance becasue they are too loud. He plays a tune on the spinet for the king by running up and down the keys while hitting them with skicks covered in mouse skin. It was vigorous exercise. for him. He told the king all about England's parliament, courts, armies, climate, soil, sports, pastimes. The king took notes, asked many questions and concluded that Gulliver was lucky to be travelling a lot and escaping the vices of his country. The king thought the English must be the worst vermin that ever crawled upon the earth.
The farmer's nine year old daughter takes care of Gulliver, making him a cradle, sewing him clothes. The farmer decides to show him off on market day so carries him in a box to a nearby town. He performs 12 times that first day - 30 people viewing each time. He answered questions, flourished his sword, drank liquor to their health etc. He was almost killed by a hazel nut thrown by a school boy. Neighbors heard about him and came to the farmer's house. The farmer decided to take the show on the road - to all the major cities in the kingdom. After two months, the travelling show starts. The daughter comes along to care for him but he is kept fast by leading strings like a puppet when he is out of his box. He was shown ten times a day to the "wonder and satisfaction of all people."
CH. 3
Gulliver is losing weight and feeling ill from all the travelling and acting. The Queen buys him for 1000 pieces of gold. the farmer's daughter stays with him at court. He was examined by scholars who determined he was carnivorous, a grown man with a beard; others thought he might be an embryo or an aborted birth. He was given a box for an apartment as well as furniture and clothes. He dines with the queen and two princesses. The king makes fun of his country and their ways and Gulliver had to agree with some of it. The queen's dwarf was hpppy to have someone smaller to kick around. He tormented Gulliver by tossing him in a bowl of cream , almost drowning him. He also stuck him into a marrow bone. Gulliver was mostly afraid and disgusted with the flies that left excrement on his food. They also stung him. He fought them off with his knife. Wasps also entered his apartment to steal his cake and sting him. He killed some and saved their stingers (later donated to Gresham College).
CH. 4
Gulliver travelled around about 2000 of the 6000 miles country and discoverd a great mistake in the English maps. This country is situated between Japan and Califonria and attached to the northern part of America. It is a peninsula with 30 mile high volcanic mountains in the north east and ocean on the other 3 sides. No seaports - rough water and jagged rocks so they are excluded from travelling to other countries. The fish are too small to make it worth their while to catch but occasionally feast on a whale that gets beached. Fortunately, the country produces vast quantities of large plants and animals for food. The country has about 600,000 people with 51 cities, 100 walled towns and many villages. The king's palace is 7 miles round with rooms 140 feet high. Gulliver describes beggars he meets- cancers, wooden legs and lice with snouts like pigs. He travels in a small box complete with furniture and windows for viewing . It can be strapped onto a rider's waist if the travellers go by horseback. Otherwise, it is held in the farmer's daughter's lap. He describes the magnificent chief temple and tower with the marble statues. He describes the king's kitchen with it's great oven and the king's stables with over 600 horses. All in all, this is a rich land.
CH. 5
Gulliver talks about his misadventures - knocked down by apples falling from a tree, bombarded by hailstones, picked up by a small dog, food snatached from his hand by a bird. The farmer's daughter's friends play with him as a doll, stripping him naked and letting him see them naked too. He was not fond of their smells or their skin which appeared coarse to his eyes. The queen had a rowing boat and trough of water made for him so he could get exercise. Once a frog jumped in his boat and almost capsized it. Once a monkey reached in his box and took him to the roof top, squeezing him, feeding him and eventually leaving him up there. He was rescued; the monkey was killed. He once landed in the middle of a frsh cow pattie while trying to jump over it. All these stories kept the court entertained.
CH. 6
Gulliver makes himself a comb from the king's whiskers and chair cushions and a purse from the queen's hair. He can only enjoy music concerts from a great distance becasue they are too loud. He plays a tune on the spinet for the king by running up and down the keys while hitting them with skicks covered in mouse skin. It was vigorous exercise. for him. He told the king all about England's parliament, courts, armies, climate, soil, sports, pastimes. The king took notes, asked many questions and concluded that Gulliver was lucky to be travelling a lot and escaping the vices of his country. The king thought the English must be the worst vermin that ever crawled upon the earth.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
PART II: A VOYAGE TO BROBDINGNAB. Chapter 1
June, 1702, Gulliver's ship travels through many storms for a year. Needing fresh water, they stop at land. Gulliver gets left behind while the sailors are chased back to their ship by a giant man. Gulliver tries to hide in a corn field but eventually gets picked up. He compares how creatures are perceived to be more savage and cruel in proportion to their size. He is frightened! He is lifted about 60 feet from the ground and gently placed in a giant's pocket. (He should be able to relate to this!) He talks, bows, and offers gold to the giant farmer. The farmer takes him home and places him on a table 30 feet off the ground. He's given food and drink. One of the children pick him up so the father makes him leave the table but Gulliver convinces the farmer that it was OK and that the boy should be pardoned for his curiosity. A cat, sitting on the wife's lap, ignores him. Gulliver watches the wife breastfeed a baby and compares how hideous her breasts looked - spots, freckles, pimples etc. as compared to the Lilliputian's flawless features (because he couldn't see them but they were there!). Gulliver is put to bed and then attacked by two rats. He kills one and wounds the other with his knife. The wife returns and puts him out in the garden to "discharge the necessities of nature."
Monday, May 12, 2008
PART ONE - CHAPTER 8
Gulliver finds a boat and is able to pull it to shore with the help of the Blefuscu men and their ships. They also helped him acquire needed sailing materials - oars, sails, ropes, cables, anchors, bread and drink as well as a living supply of cows, bulls, sheep. The Emperor of Lilliput sent an envoy to his brother, the Emperor of Blefuscu, regaring the return of Gulliver. He was to be punished as a traitor by losing his title and his eyesight. This request was ignored due to its impossibility and gratitude for Gulliver's help in making peace beyween the two countries. Gulliver left September, 1701 and after two days at sea was picked up by an English ship returning home from Japan. He was able to prove his story by showing them the living animals he carried in his pockets as well as a picture of the Empeperor and some of their coins. His voyage ended April 1702. He stayed home for two months with his wife and two children, Johnny (in grammar school) and Betty (married with kids). He made a good profit showing his miniature animals and finally selling them. He got aboard the "Adventure" bound for Surat.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
May 6, 2008 MJ
Chapter 5
Gulliver crosses the channel toward Blefuscu, protecting his eyes with eye glasses from the enemy arrows. The enemy fleet of ships is captured but the men swim home and later make peace with Lilliput. Gulliver would not help to make them slaves. Gulliver saves part of the burning Imperial Majesty's apartment by urinating on it. The Empress refuses to move back into those quarters!
Chapter 6
The Lilliputians are about six inches tall; all other living things are in proportion. Trees are about seven feet tall at most. They write at a slant from one corner of the paper to another. The dead are buried face down. They think the earth is flat. All crimes are severely punished; fraud is a greater crime than theft. They are rewarded with money and title for obeying the laws for 73 moons. Good morals are stresed above great abilities. Children are put in public nurseries at 20 months. Noble males and females are educated; working classes are apprenticed at age 7 or kept at home until age 15; laboroers keep children at home to work on the farm. Parents only see their childred twice a year for one hour visits. The nurseries are separate for boys and girls. Girls can marry at age 12. All levles of income must pay for the nursery; no public support is available.
Gulliver has been living with the Lilliputians for 9 months now. He has built himself a table with chairs. Tailors have made him clothes. Cooks have fed him The food is excellent. The Imperial Majesty and his family and the Treasurer come for a visit. The treasurer is concerned about how costly it is to take care of Gulliver. He even accused Gulliver of having an affair with his wife, which Gulliver strongly denied.
Chapter 7
The Admiral and Treasurer prepare Articles of impeachment against Gulliver for urinating near the Royal Placeand unwillingness to destroy the Big-enders. He is warned of this and told that the punishment would be blindness and slow starvation. The Admiral feared Gulliver might drown the whole palace with pee; the treasurer feared his upkeep would bankrupt them. Gulliver knows he could easlily destroy the entire village but decides to leave instead to Blefuscu, across the sea. He would be welcomed there and would not tell them on his disgrace in Lilliput.
Gulliver crosses the channel toward Blefuscu, protecting his eyes with eye glasses from the enemy arrows. The enemy fleet of ships is captured but the men swim home and later make peace with Lilliput. Gulliver would not help to make them slaves. Gulliver saves part of the burning Imperial Majesty's apartment by urinating on it. The Empress refuses to move back into those quarters!
Chapter 6
The Lilliputians are about six inches tall; all other living things are in proportion. Trees are about seven feet tall at most. They write at a slant from one corner of the paper to another. The dead are buried face down. They think the earth is flat. All crimes are severely punished; fraud is a greater crime than theft. They are rewarded with money and title for obeying the laws for 73 moons. Good morals are stresed above great abilities. Children are put in public nurseries at 20 months. Noble males and females are educated; working classes are apprenticed at age 7 or kept at home until age 15; laboroers keep children at home to work on the farm. Parents only see their childred twice a year for one hour visits. The nurseries are separate for boys and girls. Girls can marry at age 12. All levles of income must pay for the nursery; no public support is available.
Gulliver has been living with the Lilliputians for 9 months now. He has built himself a table with chairs. Tailors have made him clothes. Cooks have fed him The food is excellent. The Imperial Majesty and his family and the Treasurer come for a visit. The treasurer is concerned about how costly it is to take care of Gulliver. He even accused Gulliver of having an affair with his wife, which Gulliver strongly denied.
Chapter 7
The Admiral and Treasurer prepare Articles of impeachment against Gulliver for urinating near the Royal Placeand unwillingness to destroy the Big-enders. He is warned of this and told that the punishment would be blindness and slow starvation. The Admiral feared Gulliver might drown the whole palace with pee; the treasurer feared his upkeep would bankrupt them. Gulliver knows he could easlily destroy the entire village but decides to leave instead to Blefuscu, across the sea. He would be welcomed there and would not tell them on his disgrace in Lilliput.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Gulliver's Travels - Chapter 4 MJ
Gulliver is now able to tour the city which is an exact square divided into four quarters, holding 500,000 people. The emperor's palace sits in the middle. The Secretary of Public Affairs discusses two major concerns. At home, two groups disagree about keeping the ancient constitution. Abroad, they have been at war for a long time with another island over the correct end to break an egg!! Gulliver promises to help defend the Lilliputians during the next assault.
Monday, February 25, 2008
CHAPTER 3 - MJ
Gulliver is entertained. Rope dancers who jumped the highest got the best jobs. They competed for ribbons by leaping and creeping over and under sticks. Gulliver built them a stage with his handerkerchief where they performed mock battles. They obviously had a lot of free time on their hands!
To gain his freedom, Gulliver agreed to rules such as staying on main roads, carrying messengers, moving stones and surveying their lands. For this, he was fed enough for 1728 Liliputians daily. I wonder how long this will last?
To gain his freedom, Gulliver agreed to rules such as staying on main roads, carrying messengers, moving stones and surveying their lands. For this, he was fed enough for 1728 Liliputians daily. I wonder how long this will last?
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
CHAPTER 2 - MJ
Gulliver describes his surroundings as a garden with woods and flowers. I wonder if he can appreciate these tiny objects that he can hardly see and smell. He discusses his toilet habits. It's like the reality shows now on TV!
He meets the emperor and is given food to eat. Several men shoot him with arrows but the emperor ties these subjects up and presents them to Gulliver. The emperor is no fool! Gulliver pretends he will eat one of them but then unties all six of them and releases them. Gulliver is no fool either! Did they appreciate his humor?
Now he is given bedding, domestic helpers, tailors, scholars etc. The people discuss what to do with him. Will feeding him produce a famine? Will killing him produce a plague (rotting flesh)? They try to communicate with him. They search his pockets and take the following:
handkerchief, pistol, powder, coins, watch, comb, sword, snuff box etc. He keeps his eye glasses in a secret pocket. He impresses everyone by shooting off his gun. That would command some respect as well as fear.
He meets the emperor and is given food to eat. Several men shoot him with arrows but the emperor ties these subjects up and presents them to Gulliver. The emperor is no fool! Gulliver pretends he will eat one of them but then unties all six of them and releases them. Gulliver is no fool either! Did they appreciate his humor?
Now he is given bedding, domestic helpers, tailors, scholars etc. The people discuss what to do with him. Will feeding him produce a famine? Will killing him produce a plague (rotting flesh)? They try to communicate with him. They search his pockets and take the following:
handkerchief, pistol, powder, coins, watch, comb, sword, snuff box etc. He keeps his eye glasses in a secret pocket. He impresses everyone by shooting off his gun. That would command some respect as well as fear.
Monday, January 21, 2008
GT - Chapter 3 -- Michelle
The author, by showing his good behavior and letting the little people have their way, was on his way to his liberty (so he thinks). Apparently, the little folks are quite heroic and brave and perform great feats of acrobatics requiring quite a bit of skill. The author helped create a 'stage' from sticks and his handkerchief so they could 'play' mock wars with horses running around. They loved it until a horse got his hoof stuck in a hole and took a tumble. Fortunately no one was hurt but that was the end of that.
I had to laugh when they had the author stand up so everyone could ride underneath him and "... his breeches were at the time in so ill a condition... (there were) opportunities for laughter and admiration". Oh PLEASE. Only a man, would think of the admiration comment!
By this time, no one, not even the horses were afraid of the author and everyone liked him except a guy name Skyresh Bolgolam -- there is always one.
So then, he was 'given' his freedom. Freedom from being chained but he still had to do the little peoples' bidding. He had to measure their lands for them (about 12 square miles) and be prepared to fight their enemies, those from the Island of Blefusch. One look those Blefuschians would have of the author would send them running, I am sure. Unless they were really big too. Or maybe they could fly? Hmmm... I think that's another story!
KEY POINT: Freedom is always conditional.
ONE THING TO REMEMBER: You can be very small yet still very brave.
ONE MORE THING: The more you are around something, the more 'normal' it seems. Like not being afraid of a man, 12 times bigger than you. Sometimes being in the midst of something day and night, you lose the wonder of it all. Like when people who have lived in the Black Hills all their life don't appreciate it's incredible beauty, like it's no big thing. It is a big thing.
I had to laugh when they had the author stand up so everyone could ride underneath him and "... his breeches were at the time in so ill a condition... (there were) opportunities for laughter and admiration". Oh PLEASE. Only a man, would think of the admiration comment!
By this time, no one, not even the horses were afraid of the author and everyone liked him except a guy name Skyresh Bolgolam -- there is always one.
So then, he was 'given' his freedom. Freedom from being chained but he still had to do the little peoples' bidding. He had to measure their lands for them (about 12 square miles) and be prepared to fight their enemies, those from the Island of Blefusch. One look those Blefuschians would have of the author would send them running, I am sure. Unless they were really big too. Or maybe they could fly? Hmmm... I think that's another story!
KEY POINT: Freedom is always conditional.
ONE THING TO REMEMBER: You can be very small yet still very brave.
ONE MORE THING: The more you are around something, the more 'normal' it seems. Like not being afraid of a man, 12 times bigger than you. Sometimes being in the midst of something day and night, you lose the wonder of it all. Like when people who have lived in the Black Hills all their life don't appreciate it's incredible beauty, like it's no big thing. It is a big thing.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Gulliver's Travels - Intro. and Chapter 1 (MJ)
Jonathan Swift was born in 1667 in Ireland. He was a political journalist in England, a zealous churchman and a practical reformer. This book, written in 1726, came to symbolize his life. The general theme is human corruption; man is doomed, immoral, irresponsible, lazy etc. A few years before he died, Swift was found to be "of unsound mind and memory." At the time, the fourth voyage in this book was banned reading in decent households. (I haven't finished a book on the list yet; I'd like to get to Gulliver's last voyage!)
Lemuel Gulliver studied physics and eventually became a surgeon on several voyages. On this voyage to the South Seas, the ship hit a rock and all were lost except Gulliver. He swam to land and fell asleep. When he awoke, he was tied to stakes in the ground by natives who were less than six inches tall. He was shot with arrows and poked with spears that caused him only minor pain. After speeches that he did not understand were made, his left hand was released and he was fed meat, bread and wine containing sleeping medicine. He was treated well so did not consider grabbing 50 of them at one time and killing them.
While he slept, a wooden carrying device was built to take him to the city. He was hoisted on it by pulleys and pulled by 1500 horses. In the city, he was put in chains on his left leg, allowing him to walk a short way to find shelter in an abandoned temple.
Lemuel Gulliver studied physics and eventually became a surgeon on several voyages. On this voyage to the South Seas, the ship hit a rock and all were lost except Gulliver. He swam to land and fell asleep. When he awoke, he was tied to stakes in the ground by natives who were less than six inches tall. He was shot with arrows and poked with spears that caused him only minor pain. After speeches that he did not understand were made, his left hand was released and he was fed meat, bread and wine containing sleeping medicine. He was treated well so did not consider grabbing 50 of them at one time and killing them.
While he slept, a wooden carrying device was built to take him to the city. He was hoisted on it by pulleys and pulled by 1500 horses. In the city, he was put in chains on his left leg, allowing him to walk a short way to find shelter in an abandoned temple.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Quick Summary of Don Quixote and Pilgrim's Progress - MJ
Since I actually read the first 50 pages of each of the first two selections, I think they deserve a mention. Because I didn't want to finish either book, I read chapter summaries at Sparknotes.com. I always want to know what happens at the end!
DQ decided to become a knight so he went out searching for acts of bravery. Isn't that what we all do every day? He was such an optimist and found that people actually helped him more than he helped anyone. Another truth, I think. Did DQ just pretend he did good deeds or did he really believe he had? I thought the best summary of this book came from Professor Van Dorn in The Quiz Show when he told his son, "If you want to be a knight, act like a knight." I want to play classical piano. I do play classical piano - at a beginner level. So I guess you could call me a classical pianist!
According to Sparknotes, Pilgrim's Progress has been translated into more languages than any other book except the Bible. It is said to be the most widely read book in English. A man named Christian goes on a journey of discovery, full of obstacles and temptation. He realizes that this trip is not all about the destination but how you get there. The final destination is death (Have a nice trip!). The book is like a sermon; we must overcome many obstacles on our journey through life. Amen to that!
DQ decided to become a knight so he went out searching for acts of bravery. Isn't that what we all do every day? He was such an optimist and found that people actually helped him more than he helped anyone. Another truth, I think. Did DQ just pretend he did good deeds or did he really believe he had? I thought the best summary of this book came from Professor Van Dorn in The Quiz Show when he told his son, "If you want to be a knight, act like a knight." I want to play classical piano. I do play classical piano - at a beginner level. So I guess you could call me a classical pianist!
According to Sparknotes, Pilgrim's Progress has been translated into more languages than any other book except the Bible. It is said to be the most widely read book in English. A man named Christian goes on a journey of discovery, full of obstacles and temptation. He realizes that this trip is not all about the destination but how you get there. The final destination is death (Have a nice trip!). The book is like a sermon; we must overcome many obstacles on our journey through life. Amen to that!
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Gulliver's Travels -- Chapter 2 -- Michelle
The author was able to stand up and survey the scene. It looked like a huge garden marked in 40 foot squares. Like a mini-Hobbit town from Lord of the Rings. (The author didn't say that, I did). He had not peed in two days and went into great detail about not wanting to offend his captors so he went as far as his chain would allow to go and went. Do you think there was a rainbow?
A prince came to see him -- he was taller then the rest and past his prime at 28 (ha!). Tall is relative when your peers are less than six inches tall. "...his head a light helmet of gold, adorned with jewels and a plume on the crest." A plume of what -- a hummingbird?
The little people tried to communicate with the author including priests and lawyers. "...as I conjectured by their habits." They must have been praying for his soul and charging him every 10 minutes. Some little people shot arrows at him and the Colonel ordered all six to be sent into the author's hand for punishment! They were terrified, the author aka "Great Man Mountain" cut them all free and let them go. A good move.
Then he has countless little people assigned to feed him, take care of him and haul off his daily poop and pee (yuck) -- hundreds all for one man! They decided to do keep him alive as his corpse would be too large to dispose of. And smelly, I'd guess.
They inventoried his pockets and he amazed them with his sword, guns and pocket watch. "... the god that he worships... as he seldom did anything without consulting it." Even there time rules so much.
The author started to learn their language and the first thing he asked for was to be free - his liberty. He did keep a few things hidden -- glasses, telescope, etc. because he did not want to lose them.
Key Point: Every man wants to be free (have liberty)
One thing to remember: Greatness (the prince) is relative. He was taller than most of the little people but still tiny compared to the captive author.
One more thing: Things are just things. A pocket (or purse) full of junk may be like treasure to others. What are we filling our pockets, purses, lives with that would be better used giving to someone else?
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