Gulliver's Travels, Part I

As we discussed in class on Thursday, Swift will repeat several motifs in the development of Gulliver's Travels. One thing that Gulliver does in each land is find out about government policies and practices (such as method of governing, governing bodies, warfare, etc.) and then, sometimes explictly and other times implicitly, compare that government with England's.

What comparisons does he make in Lilliput? What is his attitude toward home when he hears about Lilliputian practices?

Can you actually SAY that on stage?

I think that reading Aphra Behn after John Milton is like opening up a new world--and they were writing at the same time. We have just begun our discussion of The Rover, but let's talk a little about the content of the play. Does the contemporary audience (you or I) care that this play that deals so much with sex is written by a woman? Why would it matter to a 17th century audience? How do you feel about characters like Angellica and Florinda and Hellena? What does that do for characterization of women? Explain your thinking.

Lost in Paradise Lost?

As we wade our way through the labyrinth that is Paradise Lost, I hope you are beginning to see how powerful the epic is. Thus far, what do you think is the strength of the poem? Some choices may be the verse itself, or the story, or the characters. In your response this week, be specific in describing what you find the most compelling about the epic.

Of course, you may find nothing compelling and instead be left with only dispair and questions. This is the place to ask them.