Last Updated on February 5, 2023 by Admin
Here we have given most important question and answers from English novel Gulliver’s Travels written by Jonathan Swift.
Gulliver’s Travels By Jonathan Swift
Important question answers
1.How did Gulliver land in Lilliput?
Ans. When Gulliver’s practice did not flourish much, he took up a surgeon’s job in a ship Antelope’ bound for sea. On its way from Bristol to East Indies the ship was caught in a violent storm which drifted it away. Immoderate labour and lack of food adversely affected the crew’s health, claiming twelve lives and leaving the others incapacitated and absolutely drained out. To make things worse, due to poor visibility, the crew detected a rock bit too late and violent winds struck the ship against this rock causing a shipwreck. A boat to which Gulliver shifted along with five other companions, too could not stand the fury of the storm. Unaware of the fate of others, Gulliver swam as long as his stamina could carry him. After some time, the storm subsided and Gulliver found his feet touching the bottom. He now walked for about a mile and reached the shore. After covering another half a mile, Gulliver laid down on the soft grass and went off to sleep. His good luck and perseverance thus brought him to Lilliput.
2.How were the children educated in Lilliput
Ans. In Lilliput, parents were not entrusted with the education of their children. The state had set up male and female nurseries in all towns for their education. The male nurseries had scholarly professors, who taught the boys values of honour, jusdce, courage, modesty, clemency, religion, patriotism and the like. The children were made to work very hard except when they were sleeping, eating and exercising. They were dressed simply and plainly by male servants till the age of four but they were not allowed to talk to the servants, lest they should pick up some bad habits. Parents, who were allowed to visit the children only twice a year, were strictly prohibited from bringing any gifts or toys for them. In the female nurseries, girls were dressed by female servants for five years. The Lilliputians wished their girls to grow into sensible, courageous and decent ladies. Hence, the nurses were forbidden from telling them any frightful or foolish stories. Violation of these rules resulted in severe punishment for them. The girls’ syllabus and physical exercises were slightly lighter than that of the boys. Otherwise, there was not much difference in the education of the two sexes. The cottagers and labourers kept their children at home, their business being only to till and cultivate the earth, and therefore their education was of little consequence to the public.
3. What were the conditions imposed on Gulliver for setting him free in Lilliput?
Ans. A lot of restrictions were imposed on Gulliver in Lilliput. Gulliver was neither allowed to leave Lilliput nor visit the capital without the king’s formal order. He was supposed to keep to the principal roads of Lilliput only, avoiding the fields and meadows. While walking he was neither to tread upon either any Lilliputian, nor their horses and carriages. He was also not allowed to take any Lilliputian in his hands without his consent. In the event of some urgent message that the king wishes to be delivered, Gulliver was expected to carry the messenger in his pocket and take him safely back to the king after the message was delivered. The most important clause in the list required him to support the Lilliputians against Blefuscu’s invasion and destroy its entire army. Gulliver would also have to lift huge stones and help the workmen to mend the parks and royal buildings. He was also asked to walk around the kingdom and calculate its circumference. Gulliver was required to take an oath that he would abide by these conditions. In lieu of it, he was to have an adequate daily allowance of meat and drink, sufficient to support 1,724 Lilliputians.
4.Give a brief character sketch of the Emperor of Blefuscu.
Ans. The emperor of Blefuscu was a very sensible and a far-sighted person. Though he supported the Lilliputian rebels against their state, he decided to have a very low profile when his intended invasion on Lilliput was thwarted with Gulliver’s aid. Estimating his meagre strength as compared to that of Lilliput and Gulliver put together, he thought it wise to sign a peace treaty on Lilliputian terms. When Gulliver visited his country and the Lilliputian king wanted him bound hand and foot, immediately this wise emperor exercised restraint and without being rash, tackled the situation very diplomatically. Being grateful to Gulliver for showing his hospitality and having a sympathetic attitude towards the Blefuscudian delegates when they visited Lilliput, he treated him very hospitably. He rendered all possible help to him while he was repairing and preparing his boat to leave for his native land. The emperor very generously did offer Gulliver an option to stay in his country but he didn’t pressurise him. To sum up, the emperor of Blefuscu was a capable emperor and a generous gentleman.
5. Describe Gulliver’s experience in the metropolis.
Ans. After attaining his liberty, Gulliver sought the emperor’s permission to visit the metropolis, Milendo. The permission was granted with the condition that he would take special care not to hurt any Lilliputian or damage their houses. Gulliver found it to be a huge but a very organised city. The whole city was surrounded by a two-and-ahalf- foot-high wall which was about eleven inches broad so that a coach and horses could be driven on it. The whole city was divided into four equal squares. The city could accommodate five hundred thousand people who resided in multi-storeyed houses. The emperor’s palace in the centre of the city was surrounded by a two-feet high wall. To have a close look at the magnificence of the palace, he built two stools with whose help he could reach the innermost court, and applying his face to the windows of the middle storey found the apartments to be splendid. He was impressed with its magnificence. He spent nine months there.
6.How did Gulliver land in the farmer’s house in Brobdingnag? What kind of reception was he given there?
Ans. On landing in Brobdingnag, Gulliver’s attempts to hide himself in the barley field proved to be futile. He was spotted by one of the servants of the farmer. The man put him into his coat pocket and carried him to his master. After asking his men several questions about the small creature and examining him well, the farmer asked him several questions but the language barrier didn’t let them communicate with each other. The farmer then took him home. His wife’s initial fright and disgust soon gave way to tenderness and she fed Gulliver on her own dinning table with the rest of the family. The entire family was delighted to see him eating. However, one of her mischievous boys took him by his leg and suspended him high up in the air which frightened him. The father immediately snatched away Gulliver from the child’s hand and boxed his ears. Gulliver became an object of interest to the entire family and he came to be looked after by all of them with great care and tenderness.
7.How did Gulliver end the Blefuscudians’ intended invasions against the Lilliputians?
Ans. Gathering all possible details of the channel dividing Blefuscu and Lilliput, Gulliver planned to capture the entire fleet of the enemy. He planned a clever strategy to capture their fleet. He procured a huge quantity of cable and a large number of iron bars. Twisting three bars together, he bent their ends into hook like shapes and securely tied cables to fifty such hooked bars and took them himself across the channel that divided the two countries. When this ‘man-mountain’ reached Blefuscu, their sea-men panicked and ran for their lives. Gulliver, then fixed the hooks into the prows of the ships and tied all the cables together. Later, facing a swam of enemy’s arrows, he cut the cables of all the anchored ships and drew after him all fifty of them. Wading and swimming through the channel to the great joy of the emperor and all Lilliputians, Gulliver soon reached back after successfully thwarting the enemy and accomplishing the mission.
8.Do you agree that chance played a great role in helping Gulliver attain his liberty from Brobdingnag? Support your answer.
Ans. Despite there being no ray of hope, Gulliver always optimistically looked forward to his liberty. Fortunately for him, deliverance came to him from a very unexpected quarter. Gulliver was once accompanying the royal couple on their journey to the south coast. One day while his nurse was away and he was sleeping in his box by the sea coast, an eagle lifted his box high up in the air and flew forward with the intention of dropping the box on a rock and picking out Gulliver’s body and feasting on it. Soon, two eagles wishing to share the feast tried to snatch it, when accidentally it fell into the sea. The box had very well grooved joints—hence no water seeped into it. Just then, this box was spotted by a captain of a ship as he was looking through his glass. He sent a long boat to find out the facts. The men informed him that it was a floating house. In the meantime, Gulliver thrust out of a hole his handkerchief tied to a stick. The captain got the box fastened to a cable and with the help of pulleys had a strange distrust for graves, coffins and skulls. The author is adamant that Harris goes mad at the end, with the poor soul going on to perform tricks.
9. What idea do you get about the Lilliputians from Gulliver’s account?
Ans. Inspite of being small in size, Lilliputians were bold, courageous, fearless and resourceful. They were very kind in their dealings with Gulliver. They handled the ‘man-mountain’ without panicking. The Lilliputians had a very keen eyesight. They were excellent mathematicians and having a peculiar style of writing, they wrote from one corner of the page to the other. They buried their dead upside down as they believed that in due course of time the earth would turn upside town, thereby making all the bodies stand on their feet. In Lilliput, crime was punished severely. But if the accused proved his innocence he was adequately compensated and the accuser was sentenced to death. Strict adherence to the laws of the country earned the citizens generous rewards. For public posts more weightage was given to good morals rather than one’s abilities. Ingratitude was also a capital crime in Lilliput.
10.Describe Gulliver’s experience in the metropolis.
Ans. On landing in Brobdingnag, Gulliver’s attempts to hide himself in the barley field proved to be futile. He was spotted by one of the servants of the farmer. The man put him into his coat pocket and carried him to his master. After asking his men several questions about the small creature and examining him well, the farmer asked him several questions but the language barrier didn’t let them communicate with each other. The farmer then took him home. His wife’s initial fright and disgust soon gave way to tenderness and she fed Gulliver on her own dinning table with the rest of the family. The entire family was delighted to see him eating. However, one of her mischievous boys took him by his leg and suspended him high up in the air which frightened him. The father immediately snatched away Gulliver from the child’s hand and boxed his ears. Gulliver became an object of interest to the entire family and he came to be looked after by all of them with great care and tenderness.
Chapter 3 Question Answers
Q1. How does Gulliver gradually win over the emperor, his retinue of followers, the army and the common man alike. Explain by giving examples from the text.
Ans: Gulliver gradually wins over the emperor, his retinue of followers, the army and the common man alike by showing his gentleness and good behaviours to them. He always tries his best to abide by the rules and regulations of the country.
Some examples from the text would support it. As Gulliver says, ” I took all possible methods to cultivate this favourable disposition. The natives came, by degrees, to be less apprehensive of any danger from me. I would sometimes lie down, and let five or six of them dance on my hand; and at last the boys and girls would venture to come and play at hide-and- seek in my hair”.
As you can see in the above example that how Gulliver is trying to make his impression favourable in the heart of Lilliputians, the emperor and the court.
Q2. Some entertaining diversions and games are mentioned in this chapter. What light do these throw on the people of Lilliput, their emperor and every one else?
Ans: Really some entertaining diversions and games which are mentioned in the chapter are adventurous and admirable because all these diversions and games need a trained player. This shows that the people of Lilliput were really excellent in using his mind and hand. One more thing that we have noticed that these all are practiced by those persons who are candidates for great employment, and high favour at court.
By these all, the emperor also wants to conceive that whether any of his minister and officers have not lost their faculty (any of his physical and mental abilities). This shows that the emperor is really serious for the artistic and adventurous skills of his men in order to remain superior in their sub continent.
Q3. In the last article for Gulliver’s recovery the emperor stipulates to allow him a quantity of meat and drink, sufficient for the support of 1724 Lilliputians. What does it convey to you about the emperor and the people of Lilliput? Discuss.
Ans: In the last article for Gulliver’s recovery the emperor stipulates to allow him a quantity of meat and drink, sufficient for the support of 1724 Lilliputians. First of all, while reading such information, I was stuck that how these tiny people calculated that the victuals allowed for Gulliver are sufficient for the support of 1724 Lilliputians. And when I become aware of his method of calculating this I was astonished that how Lilliputians were good in mathematics. The people of Lilliput are possesses the quality of performing their works exactly and very accurately.
On the other hand, the emperor proved himself that he is an eagle eyed emperor who never wants that anything concerning Gulliver goes wrong either it is matter of Gulliver’s victuals or his safety. That is why everything is being calculated very perfectly and arrangements are being made in advance.
Q4. Describe Gulliver’s lie on the island of Lilliput?
Ans: As far I have gone through the chapter the Gulliver’s lie is made somewhat distinct by the several visits of the emperor. The emperor in this chapter makes some diversions arranged in order to entertain Gulliver. Gulliver also arranged some diversions for the emperor in which His Majesty’s troops performed. At the end of the diversions the emperor was much entertained and appreciated Gulliver’s contributions. These all things made some favours for Gulliver and he was set free on certain conditions. So, we can say that in this chapter a great promotion is seen in Gulliver’s lie on island of Lilliput.
Q5. Describe the diversions provided by the emperor of Lilliput to entertain Gulliver.
Ans: Several diversions were provided by the emperor of Lilliput to entertain Gulliver. In one of the diversions, the rope dancers, performed upon a slender white thread , extended about two feet , and twelve inches from the ground. This diversion is only practiced by those persons who are candidates for great employment, and high favour at court. They are trained in this art from their youth , and are not always of noble birth, or liberal education.
Flimnap, the treasurer, is allowed to cut a dangerous activity on the straight rope , at least an inch higher than any other lord in the whole empire.
There is a likewise another diversion, which is only shown before the emperor and empress, and first minister, upon particular occasions. The emperor lays on the table three fine silken threads of six inches long; one is blue, the other red , and the third green. These threads are proposed as prizes for those persons whom the emperor has a mind to distinguish by a peculiar mark of his favour. In this diversion , the emperor holds the stick, sometimes creep under it, backward and forward, several times, according as the stick is advanced or depressed. Sometimes the emperor holds one end of the stick, and his first minister the other; sometimes the minister has it entirely to himself. Whoever performs his part with most quickly and holds out the longest in leaping and creeping, is rewarded with the blue coloured silk and so on.
Q6. Write a note on some of the Lilliputian activities which are a great source of amusement.
Ans: Some of the Lilliputian activities which are great source of amusement are the diversions formed by them. According to Gulliver, he had not seen some of the diversions performed by the Lilliputians anywhere in the world. The Lilliputians were brave as well as courageous too. All the diversions which are described in the chapter are very innovative and daring for a nation of people just six inches tall.
In one of the diversion, the performer performed rope dancing on a slender of white thread. In another diversion, one of the high official is seen performing a dangerous cut on a straight rope. Likewise in another diversion troops performed by leaping and creeping against a stick. These all things are some of the activities of Lilliputian which are a great source of amusement.
Q7. Write any five promises that were made by Gulliver to because free in laid of Lilliput.
Ans: Five promises that were made by Gulliver to because free in laid of Lilliput are as below:-
(I) The mountain man is expected not to depart from the dominions of Lilliput without license under great seal.
(ii) He shall not suppose to come into the metropolis, without king’s express order; at which time, the inhabitants shall have two hours warning to keep within doors.
(iii) Mountain man shall confine his walks to our principal high roads, and not offer to walk , or lie down, in a meadow or a field of corn.
(iv) As he walks the said road, he shall take the utmost care not to trample upon the bodies of any of our loving subjects, their horses, or carriages, nor take any of our subjects into his hands without their own consent.
(v) He shall be our ally against our enemies in the island of Blefuscu, and do his utmost to destroy their fleet , which is now preparing to invade us.
Q8. What kind of people were the in habitants of Lilliput?
Ans: The inhabitants of Lilliput were great. They are highly civilized and alert in terms of protecting their country. They had made some code and conduct for their citizens and all the citizens are expected to act accordingly. In spite of this, the Lilliputians are innovative, brave and courageous too. Some of their adventures qualities are seen while performing the great diversions of Lilliput to entertain Gulliver. We have already seen the mathematical and engineering skills of Lilliputian in previous chapters. So what we call them ‘very intelligent’.
Interpreting the Characters
Q1. Don’t you agree that the diversions as described in this chapter are very innovative and daring for a nation of people just six inches tall?
Ans: Yes, I am agree that the diversions as described in this chapter are very innovative and daring for a nation of people just six inches tall. Gulliver himself had said that he had never seen such kind of diversions being performed in any part of the world. The things that normal people hardly perform, the little Lilliputians were seen performing them very efficiently. It is a matter of pride in itself for the little Lilliputians.
Q2. The emperor of Lilliput possesses some endearing and admirable qualities which, if possessed by rulers and emperors of big nations, could change the whole panorama of world politics. Do you agree? Discuss.
Ans: Yes, it is true that the emperor of Lilliput possesses some endearing and admirable qualities which, if possessed by rulers and emperors of big nations, could Change whole panorama of world politics. The emperor was very down to earth. He has never behaves like a king with Gulliver. By his several visits to Gulliver, he appeared like a friend of Gulliver. And obviously friendly behaviour of rulers of big nations can change the whole panorama of world politics. The only reason of bitterness among big nations of today’s world is rude behaviour and discontentment. The emperor was highly satisfied whatever he and his people had. He had quality to give respect to anyone. And suppose if we behave with someone like that then how could one slap on my cheek.
Q3. What is your impression of the emperor of Lilliput in “Gulliver’s Travels”.
Ans: Believe me! After reading some of the chapters I have become the fan of the emperor of Lilliput. He is very lovable and like person whom I respect too much. It is his quality that his every command is executed like the command of God! I am fond of such friendly behaviour that he showed for Gulliver and set him free as soon as possible. With his command, a great example of hospitality is also seen. Haven’t you noticed that how he cares Gulliver that he himself arranged diversions for entertaining Gulliver. Wow! It makes me laugh internally.