CliffsNotes on

Gulliver's Travels

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About the Author

Early Years and Education
Career
Major Literary Works

About the Novel

Introduction
A Brief Synopsis
List of Characters and Places
Character Map

Summaries and Commentaries

Book I: A Voyage to Lilliput: Chapter 1
Book I: A Voyage to Lilliput: Chapter 2
Book I: A Voyage to Lilliput: Chapter 3
Book I: A Voyage to Lilliput: Chapter 4
Book I: A Voyage to Lilliput: Chapter 5
Book I: A Voyage to Lilliput: Chapter 6
Book I: A Voyage to Lilliput: Chapter 7
Book I: A Voyage to Lilliput: Chapter 8
Book II: A Voyage to Brobdingnag: Chapter 1
Book II: A Voyage to Brobdingnag: Chapter 2
Book II: A Voyage to Brobdingnag: Chapter 3
Book II: A Voyage to Brobdingnag: Chapter 4
Book II: A Voyage to Brobdingnag: Chapter 5
Book II: A Voyage to Brobdingnag: Chapter 6
Book II: A Voyage to Brobdingnag: Chapter 7
Book II: A Voyage to Brobdingnag: Chapter 8
Book III: A Voyage to Laputa, Balnibarbi, Luggnagg, Glubbdubdrib, and Japan: Chapter 1
Book III: A Voyage to Laputa, Balnibarbi, Luggnagg, Glubbdubdrib, and Japan: Chapter 2
Book III: A Voyage to Laputa, Balnibarbi, Luggnagg, Glubbdubdrib, and Japan: Chapter 3
Book III: A Voyage to Laputa, Balnibarbi, Luggnagg, Glubbdubdrib, and Japan: Chapter 4
Book III: A Voyage to Laputa, Balnibarbi, Luggnagg, Glubbdubdrib, and Japan: Chapter 5
Book III: A Voyage to Laputa, Balnibarbi, Luggnagg, Glubbdubdrib, and Japan: Chapter 6
Book III: A Voyage to Laputa, Balnibarbi, Luggnagg, Glubbdubdrib, and Japan: Chapter 7
Book III: A Voyage to Laputa, Balnibarbi, Luggnagg, Glubbdubdrib, and Japan: Chapter 8
Book III: A Voyage to Laputa, Balnibarbi, Luggnagg, Glubbdubdrib, and Japan: Chapter 9
Book III: A Voyage to Laputa, Balnibarbi, Luggnagg, Glubbdubdrib, and Japan: Chapter 10
Book III: A Voyage to Laputa, Balnibarbi, Luggnagg, Glubbdubdrib, and Japan: Chapter 11
Book IV: A Voyage to the Country of the Houyhnhnms: Chapter 1
Book IV: A Voyage to the Country of the Houyhnhnms: Chapter 2
Book IV: A Voyage to the Country of the Houyhnhnms: Chapter 3
Book IV: A Voyage to the Country of the Houyhnhnms: Chapter 4
Book IV: A Voyage to the Country of the Houyhnhnms: Chapter 5
Book IV: A Voyage to the Country of the Houyhnhnms: Chapter 6
Book IV: A Voyage to the Country of the Houyhnhnms: Chapter 7
Book IV: A Voyage to the Country of the Houyhnhnms: Chapter 8
Book IV: A Voyage to the Country of the Houyhnhnms: Chapter 9
Book IV: A Voyage to the Country of the Houyhnhnms: Chapter 10
Book IV: A Voyage to the Country of the Houyhnhnms: Chapter 11
Book IV: A Voyage to the Country of the Houyhnhnms: Chapter 12

CHARACTER ANALYSES

Lemuel Gulliver
The Lilliputians
The Brobdingnagians
The Houyhnhnms
The Yahoos

CRITICAL ESSAYS

Philosophical and Political Background
Swift’s Satire
Gulliver as a Dramatis Persona

Study Help

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Would you rather . . . ?

Have a third arm.
Have hair down to your toes.
Have no nose.

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About the Novel

List of Characters and Places

Lemuel Gulliver    A traveler and an adventurer. Gulliver is the protagonist of the Travels. He is an observer of other beings and other cultures.

Golbasto Momaren Evlame Gurdilo Shefin Mully Ully Gue    The Emperor of Lilliput. Swift uses the Emperor as an example of rulers who must always have some type of support before making a decision.

Flimnap    Lord High Treasurer of Lilliput.

Reldresal    A Lilliputian councilor, Principal Secretary of Private Affairs.

Skyresh Bolgolam    High admiral of Lilliput, a counselor of the Emperor.

Slamecksan and Tramecksan    Lilliputian political parties. The first represents the Low Heels; the second represents the High Heels.

Glumdalclitch    The daughter of Gulliver’s master in Brobdingnag. She acts as Gulliver’s nurse and protector.

The King of Laputa    Leader of Laputa. He is preoccupied with mathematics and music.

The Academy Projectors (Professors)    Balnibarbian reformers who plan reforms without considering effects.

Munodi    The Governor of Lagado, on Balnibarbi. He represents the traditionalists, who are opposed to the reformers.

The Struldbruggs    A race of humans who age without dying; they are immortal, but their immortality has none of its supposed delights.

Houyhnhnms    Superior, totally rational horses, who are the masters of the Yahoos.

Yahoos    The repugnant anthropoids held in subjection by the Houyhnhnms.

The Grey Horse (The Master)    Gulliver’s master in the Country of the Houyhnhnms.


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