Comparing Animal Farm and Gulliver's Travels
Wide Reading Assignment In both Animal Farm and Gulliver's Travels, there are many parts which comment on human behaviour. However, neither book approaches this subject directly. Both stories are allegories - stories that have two meanings. The surface meaning is simple and is usually portrayed in the form of a simple story. This makes it easy for the reader to understand what is going on. Underneath the surface is a deeper meaning that is harder to understand. Animal Farm Animal farm is a story about a good idea going terribly wrong because of greed, jealousy and power. An idea is put forward for a world where animals rule themselves. At first this is a good idea. The farmer, Mr Jones, is thrown off the farm and Animalism comes into practice. Later on, however, certain animals become more and more like leaders, and after a while the farm is being ruled by a dictator. George Orwell decided to write Animal Farm because he was concerned about things that were going on in the world, mainly the Russian Revolution. In Russia, an idea was being spread around about communism, where all people are equal and there are no leaders. Orwell could see problems with this idea of communism. He wrote Animal Farm so that other people could also see these problems. In the book, communism is known as Animalism. Orwell knew that if he sat down and wrote a book about the Russian Revolution,
A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift How does Swift attempt to make his readers aware of the problems in Ireland with his pamphlet? To what extent do you think he succeeds?
GCSE coursework 'A Modest Proposal' by Jonathan Swift How does Swift attempt to make his readers aware of the problems in Ireland with his pamphlet? To what extent do you think he succeeds? Satire; a mode of writing that exposes the failings of individuals, institutions, or societies to ridicule and scorn. The modest proposal was considered one of the finest pieces of satire in world literature and was published as a pamphlet in 1729 in Ireland aimed at mainly the middle/ upper class of Ireland. The reasons for Swift's outlandish and shocking pamphlet were to argue that the problem of poverty in Ireland can be best remedied by selling the babies of the less fortunate as food for the wealthy. He put forward his ideas in a pamphlet as this was a common method to publish an argument or in the public treatise arena. There was an issue of too many Protestants becoming quarrelsome over the Irish religious issues and something had to be done to resolve the complaints. This is where Swift's proposal came into action as it addressed the issue and played on people's prejudices and stereotypes of the Catholics and the Irish being inhumane savages. The proposal can be perceived as barbaric, cannibalistic and outrageous whereas some will see the logic behind it and how it will actually work. In the whole pamphlet he uses irony constantly to show satire and to horrify the public but
What are the Objects of Swift's Satire in 'Gulliver's Travels' in the 'Voyages to Lilliput' and 'Brobdingnag', and How Does he Satirise Them?
What are the Objects of Swift's Satire in 'Gulliver's Travels' in the 'Voyages to Lilliput' and 'Brobdingnag', and How Does he Satirise Them? Jonathan Swift was a popular 18th century author who was a strong satirist of many aspects of 18th century English culture. He was very good at using literature, such as 'Gulliver's Travels' and 'A Modest Proposal' to point out and satirise feelings he had about, what he considered, 'problems' of the society in his time. Originally Swift had written "Gulliver's Travels" so he could explain and demonstrate his disgust of British society, although in the modern day it is a popular children's novel. Throughout 'Gulliver's Travels' he very subtly shows his disgust of English culture using the different voyages in 'Gulliver's Travels'. In particular he focuses his satire on travelogues of his time, politics, legal terms, religion and the church, women and the human physical body. Travelogues were a very popular style of writing in the 18th century. Swift felt that travelogues were over used and written in a pedantic way. He felt the way in which many authors wrote travelogues made themselves sound a lot better, perhaps more heroic, than they really were. They would be written in first person, and more often than not be filled with dramatic events, for example 'I did this, then I did this after'. It's ironic then that Swift chose to write
Cannibalism is the last taboo. In ‘Alive’ and ‘A Modest Proposal’ Jonathan Swift and Piers Paul Read approach the subject with completely different purposes in mind. What do you consider to be the purpose of each author, and say how he
Cannibalism is the last taboo. In 'Alive' and 'A Modest Proposal' Jonathan Swift and Piers Paul Read approach the subject with completely different purposes in mind. What do you consider to be the purpose of each author, and say how he achieves this? A Modest Proposal is a scathing attack on the economic oppression of the Irish by the English. During Swift's lifetime tremendous suffering was caused by English practices in Ireland. However, it is incorrect to say that cannibalism is the theme of 'A Modest Proposal.' Swift was a Protestant writer in Ireland at the time of The Great Potato Famine. The article is a clever satirical device to draw attention to the plight of the poor. He infiltrates the opposition, the rich Protestant landlords, in order to put their torturous ideas to ridicule. Swift attacks his own Protestant, English community by creating a narrator who considers himself a reasonable and compassionate character, but one who combines a repulsive anti-Catholic bigotry, with a 'modest' proposal, that is, rather, a 'final solution': he, the narrator, advocates cannibalism as a means of countering Irish Catholic poverty abortion, and the high birth rate. The narrator, in a frighteningly rational and level-headed tone condemns the English for being inhumane, the Irish for being passive, the speaker for being morally blind, and the reader for accepting intolerable
Gulliver’s Travels by Joseph Zere.
Gulliver's Travels by Joseph Zere My first example of satire is in Lilliput when Gulliver was invited to a entertainment feast. But when Gulliver arrives at the feast, he gradually discovers that its not only an entertainment feast, but it is an job applicants who will dance on the tight rope. Who ever dance the highest on the tight rope will get a very good job. This is absurd because to get a good pay job, you need to have qualifications, familiarity and the experience to do the job. I know of all this, because in page 32 it says 'when a great office is vacant by either dead or disgrace, 5 or 6 candidates petition the emperor to entertain his majesty and the court with a dance on the rope, and whoever jumps the highest without falling succeeds in the office'. This is not fair, because you need to be educated, not be a good dancer. So Jonathan Swift is translating it based to London, he is trying to put out that you don't need merit to get a well-paid job; you could get it for daft reasons. Like if you had friends in power, through favouritism, so getting a job wasn't based on merit, it was based on silly, childish ways. In fact people at the time (18th century) were incompetent people and didn't know how to their jobs, especially in politics. Jobs were allocated on the ground of tradition and family. Luckily and rightfully civil exams came in, and it was a big change, but
Although the two texts are written 250 years apart where the problem of homelessness was first outlined by Jonathan Swift it is still a big problem today as Robert Swindells outlines in his text.
Chris Mottram English Assignment Compare and contrast the ways in which the problem of homelessness and the solution to it are presented in the two texts: 'A Modest Proposal' by Jonathan Swift and 'Stone Cold' by Robert Swindells. In this assignment I am going to compare the two texts, which talk about their anger of homelessness. Although the two texts are written 250 years apart where the problem of homelessness was first outlined by Jonathan Swift it is still a big problem today as Robert Swindells outlines in his text. The text written by Robert Swindells, 'Stone Cold', shows the cruelty of the DSS, who brush aside the homeless like Link because he hasn't got a permanent address. This particular problem was outlined by the Robert Swindells, as they made no attempt to help the young homeless people in London. Link says that he may as well be speaking to one of the stone lions in Trafalgar Square, suggesting to the reader it was a complete waste of time. This is linked with 'A Modest Proposal', which was written by Jonathan Swift 250 years ago as it states about how uncaring the rich landlords of Ireland are. For example, Who, as they have already devoured most of the Parents, seem to have the best title to the children, which means the landlords have already eaten most of the parents and seem to have the best right to the children, which I feel
How Gulliver's Travels Satirises the Politics of Swift's Time.
Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift Gulliver's Travels was written during an era of change known as the Restauration Period. The way this book is written suggests some of the political themes from that time period, including the well-known satire. These themes are displayed throughout Gulliver's Travels, and even sometimes reflect upon today's society. While Swift was writing “Gulliver's Travels”in the 1720s, England was undergoing a lot of political shuffling. George I, a Hanoverian prince of Germany, had ascended the British throne in 1714 after the death of Queen Anne ended the Stuart line. Although he was not a bad or repressive king, he was unpopular. King George had gained his throne with the assistance of the Whig party, and his Whig ministers subsequently used their considerable gains in power to oppress members of the opposition Tory party. Swift had been a Tory since 1710, and bitterly resented the Whig actions against his friends, who often faced exile or worse. Understanding how events in Europe and England led to this political rivalry can help the reader of Swift's novel better understand his satire. Written in four parts, it describes the travels of Lemuel Gulliver to Lilliput, a land inhabited by tiny people whose size renders all their pompous activities absurd; to Brogdinnags, a land of wandering giants who are amused when Gulliver tells
Gulliver's Travels. The saga of Lilliput is more fun and entertaining than that of Brobdingnag. Discuss.
'The saga of Lilliput is more fun and entertaining than that of Brobdingnag.' Discuss. Gulliver's Travels is a classic example of eighteenth century satire, one of Swift's greatest works in an outcry against the values and practices of his time. While his words ruthlessly attack numerous aspects of human society and human character, by the nature of satire his weapon is humour. So there is plenty of amusement to be had through the course of the book, most notably in the first two adventures, in Lilliput and Brobdingnag. On Gulliver's first adventure to Lilliput, he awakes on the island to find himself bound and tied to the ground by the six-inch tall Lilliputians. After being stung with arrows and stabbed with spears, he decides to obey, and then help the 'Most Mighty Emperor of Lilliput' and his country. So we see the foremost target of Swift's humour and satire, that surrounding Gulliver himself, as Richard Rodino said, 'Gulliver...is a satirical device enabling Swift to score satirical points.' In Lilliput he subjects to the Emperor's imprisonment and his wishes, some strange, such as when 'he desired I would stand like a Colossus', 'draw up the troops in close order, and march them under me'. Some others were simply humiliating, however, such as when, upon receiving his decree of liberty, he swears to it 'with great cheerfulness and content', despite the fact that he
Discuss the similarities and differences in themes and ideas as shown in a modest proposal and stone cold.
Discuss the similarities and differences in themes and ideas as shown in a modest proposal and stone cold In this essay I will compare two books, one 20th century novel and the other a pre 20th century novel. The two books: Stone Cold written by Robert Swindells in 1983 in form of a thriller and the other A Modest Proposal written by Jonathan Swift in 1729 in form of a pseudo economical pamphlet. There are significant differences between both though the recipients are the government. Swindells wrote his thriller because he had experienced living rough in the North of London for a ghastly three days. He wrote his thriller in 1993 which indicates that the story was written after he had experienced the three days. Swindells was touched by the horrific conditions of day to day life that people were living in so he decided to do something about this. He quoted "I am dedicated to the idea that they are all responsible for one another and that we ought to conduct ourselves accordingly, doing no harm to anyone. My work reflects this belief." This clearly reflects the belief Swindells had after writing his book. The experiences he had were so horrendous that any human would not be able to survive them. Swindells was angry because the Conservative government of the time did not seem to care about the homeless. One MP complained saying that it's terrible having to step over homeless
Discuss the ways in which Swift criticises his society in 'A Modest Proposal'.
Discuss the ways in which Swift criticises his society in 'A Modest Proposal'. The proposal that Swift wrote, was aimed at the high class Protestants in Ireland. Swift wanted to show them the injustice of his time of how the Catholics were treated. In his pamphlet, he criticises many different things, such as marriage relationships and landowner behaviour, and then links them to a main criticism, which is how badly the Protestants treat the Catholics, and how they have not realised how bad it really is. Swift used many satirical techniques to bring his point across and by doing so, he had hoped to make the Protestants realised how immoral they were being. Swift creates a narrator as so the reader, who is intended to be a Protestant of high class, can relate to. An example of this is, "It is a melancholy Object to those, who walk through this great Town, or travel in the Country, when they see the Streets, the Roads, and Cabbin-Doors, crowded with Beggars of the female sex." Here, Swift starts his pamphlet with a long articulated sentence from the narrator, as so the reader can associate with him because of the upper class phrasing and wording, and want to continue reading. The word 'melancholy' shows us the reader is high class and well spoken, and shows how he has respect for his town. We also see his disapproval towards the peasants because they are ruining everything.