Topics for Further Study
Examine how the experiences in Gulliver's Travels alter Gulliver's character and his perspective on humanity.
Investigate real-life explorers from the 1600s and early 1700s. Compare and contrast their journeys with Gulliver's adventures, and include quotes from authentic historical records if available.
After reading Gulliver's Travels, do you think Jonathan Swift was a misanthrope (someone who despises mankind)? Support your argument with quotes and examples from the novel.
Explore the philosophical ideas of the 1600s and early 1700s concerning human nature. Compare the thoughts of philosophers like René Descartes, Thomas Hobbes, Gottfried Leibniz, and John Locke with Gulliver's views as depicted in the book.
Discuss why Swift chose to have Gulliver describe people, places, objects, and events with such precise, sometimes almost scientific, detail.
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