Jonathan Swift Prep Work

Joanna Mira

Gulliver's Travels

A) The questions I came up with for Gulliver's Travels were:

- How did Gulliver end up on the Lilliput's island?

- Why did the Lilliput people keep Gulliver as their prisoner?

- What was it that kept Gulliver from trying to escape?

- Was Gulliver overwhelmed at any time while being their prisoner?

Ecerpts:

(1) "I thought it the most prudent method to lie still, and my design was to continue so till night, when, my left hand being already loose, I could easily free myself: And as for the inhabitants, I had reason to believe I might be a match for the greatest armies they could bring against me, if they were all of the same size with him that i saw. But fortune dispose otherwise of me."

* If Gulliver was able to easily free himself, what made him just sit there and be a prisoner? He claims to be a little scared that there might be worse armies to face if he were to escape, but wouldn't he have seen them when he first came to the island? He was already halfway free at this point so was getting the rest of himself untied really that much work?

(2) "Whereupon I once more thought of attempting to break my bonds; but again, when I felt the smart of their arrows, upon my face and hands, which were all in blisters, and many of the darts still sticking in them, and observing likewise that the number of my enemies increased, I gave tokens to let them know that they might do with me what they pleased. Upon this, the Hurgo and his train withdrew, with much civility and cheerful countenances." 

* Gulliver keeps saying that he wants to escape and he almost does, but when he thinks about the Lilliput's arrows and weapons and how much they hurt, he fears it too much to escape. All they did were give him blisters or little scratches. It's not like he was in any real pain. I think he would have been smart to just break free.

B) The project in general was interesting. I think the preparation to teach another group was somewhat hard but my group and I were able to work through it. I didn't really like the story however, because I thought at times it was difficult to understand. Overall I learned that teaching may not be as easy as it seems.

C.) My group understands this assignment better now then before. I think when working in small teaching groups again, we will work better and find the assignment a little more easier to do.