Discussion Questions for
Gulliver's Stories
Please read about these questions here.
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Part I / pp. 1-94
Why does Gulliver choose not to hurt the Lilliputians even though they are holding him captive?
Why do some of the Lilliputians want to hurt Gulliver?
Why do you think the king wanted to march his army between Gulliver's legs? (p. 44)
Why do you think the two countries are willing to fight over what end of the egg to break? (p. 60)
Why do you think the King, even though he has captured most of Blefuscu's fleet, wants to conquer the Blefuscucians and make them his slaves? (p. 73)
There is famous saying by Lord Acton which says, "Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely." What do you think this means? Do you think it relates to the King of Lilliput? Why or why not?
Part II / pp. 95-166
Why does the farmer work Gulliver so hard with little regard for his health? What do you think this section of the story might represent in England during Swift's lifetime? (p. 124)
Why do you think the dwarf does not like Gulliver? Why does the dwarf act this way? In what ways are people in general like the dwarf? What can they do to change?
On page 144 it says, "But their city was too big to seem beautiful to me." Why do you think the city being big would make it not beautiful? (p. 144)
If you were to describe the customs, traditions and history of your country to someone who had never heard of your country, what would you say?
©2005-2012 Glen Draeger (all rights reserved)
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