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.
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