The Second Level of Inquiry (after book is completed)

Is this novel a 'fable' or 'chronicle'?

What does the central character want? What is standing in his or her way? And what strategy does he or she pursue in order to overcome this block?

Who is telling this story?

Where is this story set?

What style does the writer employ?

Images and metaphores?

Beginnings and endings?

Fable - short tale to teach a moral lesson, often with animals or creatures

This seems to fit Gulliver's Travels. It does have a chronoligical order of things, but usually this is a "historical" piece of work.

What does the central character want?

Well he starts out wanting adventure and then it turns out to be a peaceful society and he thinks he will get inner peace. He is mistaken.

Who is telling the story? Gullliver is the main character and he is writing this to tell us of a journey he made, not meant to be entertaining.

Setting - 18th century, England and the four islands he visits.

Metaphores - I think the most prominent metaphore is the Yahoos and him. A metaphore is two things that are compared that are not literally applicable.

I think the Yahoos and Gulliver is a good one. On the outside they have a lot of similar qualities, but their inner selves are so completely different.
I'm having a hard time with this one so maybe someone could expand a little more on metaphores.

Is this novel a 'fable' or 'chronicle'?
This story is a fable, Swift has created a fantastical world to allegorically speak on human characteristics.

Who is telling this story?
Gulliver is telling a story of the things he has gone through as a traveler.

Where is this story set?
The story is set on several different islands, England, and on the seas.

What style does the writer employ?
The story is written in a first person view of the worlds.

Themes
Themes of size, morality, power, intelligence, culture, and travel are entertwined throughout the book.

Can you think of any metaphores in this book? I don't understand them that well and maybe you could help.

I also found it difficult to identify metaphores throughout Gulliver's Travels, and I wonder if that is because of the style of the writing. I feel as if everything in the story has multiple interpretations, and not just one metaphorical meaning.

Karen what do you think, are you having more luck than the rest of us??