Gulliver's Travels — by Jonathan Swift
About the Author
Jonathan Swift (1667–1745) was an Anglo-Irish satirist, essayist, and poet, best known for his masterpiece Gulliver's Travels (1726). He was born in Dublin, Ireland, and is regarded as one of the foremost prose satirists in the English language. Gulliver's Travels was originally a political satire aimed at the British government, but over time it became a beloved adventure story for readers of all ages. The SCERT textbook presents a simplified, child-friendly adaptation of the first voyage — Gulliver's journey to Lilliput.
Summary of the Story
Gulliver, a ship's doctor, embarked on a long sea voyage. The journey began smoothly but soon turned disastrous when the ship was caught in a violent storm, thrown off course, and finally wrecked upon hitting a rock. Six crew members, including Gulliver, escaped in a small boat, but a sudden, massive wave overturned it. Being a strong swimmer, Gulliver managed to swim until he reached an unknown, strange, and deserted shore. Exhausted and hungry, he collapsed on a patch of grass and fell into a deep sleep.
When Gulliver awoke, he discovered he was lying on his back, completely unable to move. His arms, legs, and even his long hair had been tied down to the ground with slender strings attached to pegs. To his utter astonishment, he saw a tiny human creature — not six inches tall — carrying a bow and arrow, walking upon his body. These tiny people were called Lilliputians. When Gulliver cried out in shock and freed his left arm, the frightened Lilliputians fired dozens of tiny arrows into his hand, face, and body until he lay still. An important Lilliputian official climbed a small stage built beside Gulliver and delivered a ten-minute speech in a language Gulliver could not understand. Gulliver gestured that he was hungry, and the Lilliputians — after getting his promise to behave — brought him baskets of meat, tiny loaves of bread, and two small barrels of drink. The drink, however, contained a sleeping draught, and Gulliver soon fell unconscious.
While he slept, the Lilliputians loaded him onto a large platform fitted with twenty-two wheels, pulled by dozens of tiny horses (only four-and-a-half inches tall), and transported him to the capital city. More than a hundred thousand Lilliputians gathered in a carnival atmosphere to see the giant. He was lodged in a disused temple and chained by the leg. After a few weeks, when the Emperor was satisfied that Gulliver meant no harm, he was set free on the condition that he would not hurt anyone and would help the Lilliputians when needed. Gulliver agreed and lived happily among them. When the neighbouring kingdom of Blefuscu declared war and sent a hundred ships to attack Lilliput, the Lilliputians turned to Gulliver for help. Gulliver waded into the sea, tied all one hundred enemy ships together with a long rope, and dragged them around in circles until the Blefuscu army was giddy and unable to fight. The King of Blefuscu sued for peace, the Emperor agreed, and Gulliver was hailed as a hero. He lived peacefully in Lilliput for many years.
Characters
| Character | Description |
|---|---|
| Gulliver | A ship's doctor and the protagonist; a kind, brave, and strong swimmer who becomes a hero in Lilliput. |
| The Lilliputians | Tiny people, not six inches tall, who live in the island kingdom of Lilliput. |
| The Emperor of Lilliput | Ruler of Lilliput who initially chains Gulliver but later sets him free after confirming he is harmless. |
| The King of Blefuscu | Ruler of the neighbouring kingdom who declares war on Lilliput but eventually begs for peace. |
Glossary
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Voyage | A long journey by sea |
| Violent storm | A very powerful and destructive weather event |
| Exhausted | Extremely tired; completely drained of energy |
| Terrified | Extremely frightened |
| Quiver | A case for carrying arrows |
| Lilliputians | The tiny people (under six inches tall) who inhabit the island of Lilliput |
| Sleeping draught | A drink containing a substance that causes sleep |
| Carnival | A festive celebration; an atmosphere of excitement and enjoyment |
| Lodged | Given a place to stay temporarily |
| Giddy | Feeling dizzy or unsteady |
| Hailed | Praised enthusiastically; acclaimed |
| Adversity | A difficult or unpleasant situation; hardship |
Themes and Moral of the Story
- Courage and Resilience: Gulliver faces a shipwreck, finds himself tied down by unknown tiny creatures, and is attacked with arrows — yet he remains calm, patient, and brave throughout. The story teaches us to face adversity with courage.
- Kindness and Good Behaviour: Gulliver keeps his promise to behave well and does not harm the Lilliputians despite being much larger and stronger. In return, they treat him well and eventually set him free. This illustrates that kindness begets kindness.
- Cooperation and Helpfulness: When the Lilliputians face a war with Blefuscu, Gulliver helps them selflessly. His willingness to assist earns him the title of hero and lasting peace between the two kingdoms.
- Peace over War: The story concludes with peace being established between Lilliput and Blefuscu, emphasising that conflicts can be resolved without unnecessary destruction.
- Size Does Not Determine Worth: Despite their tiny size, the Lilliputians are intelligent, organised, and capable. The story subtly suggests that one should never underestimate others based on appearances.
Important Points for Exams
- Gulliver was a ship's doctor, not a captain or sailor.
- The Lilliputians were less than six inches tall.
- Gulliver was transported on a platform with 22 wheels pulled by tiny horses four-and-a-half inches tall.
- Over one hundred thousand Lilliputians came to see Gulliver.
- The neighbouring enemy kingdom was called Blefuscu.
- Gulliver defeated Blefuscu's navy by tying all 100 ships together and dragging them in circles until the soldiers became giddy.
- Gulliver was lodged in an old, disused temple.
- The Emperor set Gulliver free after confirming he meant no harm.