In preparation for class Friday, feel free to ask either of the following two questions:
1. The title page of a C18 book served the same purpose as the back cover of a modern paperback--it gave potential purchasers information about the book and sought to pique their interest. How, specifically, does this title page serve as an advertisement for the book? On what basis does it encourage the consumer to buy it?
2. Based on your reading of the first chapter of the excerpt in Longman, what sort of person is Lemuel Gulliver? What kinds of personal characteristics does he display?
Deadline: Friday (3/11), start of class.
15 comments:
In answer to question, one the first page serves to pique reader's interest by naming many of the strange places that Lemuel Gulliver has traveled to and by stating that he is both a surgeon and a captain. The first class further gets readers attention by describing two of the lands saying that in one there was a people so small as to fit five at a time into a pocket and in the second, there were veritable giants. The first page also grabs the reader’s attention by mentioning various lands in the east, which since they were relatively newly discovered during the enlightenment era and considered places of mystery and magic was certain to serve its office. The large type of the title, stating that Gulliver will travel to remote nations serves to draw the reader’s interest. The final ploy that this handout evidences by the publisher to grab the readers interest is that he mentions in the fourth part a nation of horses making this book of interest to both those who are interested in different societies of people as well as to those who want to hear about the fauna of the strange nations.
As Gulliver narrates his encounters with the Yahoos and Houyhnhnms, one of the most striking aspects of the account is the degree of details he provides. Gulliver's explanation of the journey's origin and the mutiny is disposed of fairly quickly and a significant portion of the chapter details his encounter with the Yahoos and Houyhnhnms. In his description of the Yahoos, he describes practically every aspect of their physiology, from the "long ridge of hair down their backs" to the "foreparts of their legs and feet" (351). He also describes their activities and physical abilities: "They climbed high trees, as nimbly as squirrels" and "leap with prodigious agility" (351). Gulliver demonstrates an acute attention to the detail even in the presence of creatures he finds disturbing. His observational nature is also apparent when he first meets a Houyhnhnm. In addition to recounting it physical qualities, Gulliver pays attention to specific attributes like the cadence of its neighing.
Although Gulliver expresses some nervousness about "how this adventure might terminate," (352) this does not prevent him from coherently narrating his thoughts and experiences. He is also not entirely discouraged from using his circumstances as a learning opportunity. For instance, he tries to understand and imitate the language spoken by the Houyhnhnms.
Far from being a passive observer, Gulliver is continually making observations and positing theories in order to account for what he sees. I think Gulliver's propensity to offer detailed accounts raises questions for readers concerning how to interpret the narration. The extensiveness and specificity of his account may generate credibility, but we should also wonder whether Gulliver is trying to impose his existing knowledge on these new experiences and how this might impact our interpretations.
The chapter casts Gulliver as a careful, reasoned man, hesitant to make bold moves yet propelled by burning curiosity to explore the strange land he encounters. Arriving on the shore, he relates how he "sat down on the bank to rest myself, and consider what I had best do," his disposition hewn to contemplation in the face of action. When confronted by a Houyhnhnm standing in his path, this reflective nature prevails, as he and the creature "stood gazing at each other for some time." Through such observation, his senses serve to build trust in new experiences, his careful curiosity finally culminating into action as he reaches out to the beast.
Gulliver richly details his observations of Yahoos, reflecting again his innate curiosity. The passage reads like that of an early naturalist, the amateur scientist making inferences into the reasons behind the forms he notes objectively. I think Dema raises an interesting point when asking if we can trust such an account. Are his reflections valid, or do his preconceptions skew any chance at conveying essential aspects of animals so foreign to him? In light of this question, I find it interesting that he makes contact with Houyhnhnms, creatures much like the horses that he would know, yet aggressively reproaches the advance of a Yahoo. Is he as open to radically new encounters as his curiosity hints at, or does his observing only spring into action in the face of things he can relate to? Either way, we meet in Gulliver a sure-footed adventurer, a man capable of exploring--and relating to us--the experiences he finds cast upon him.
Like Margaret alludes to, the two largest words on the title page are TRAVELS and WORLD. A potential reader’s eyes are immediately drawn to those two words, and next to NATIONS, so they know they will be reading a book of journeys around the world, and the literature will probably visit and explore places they have never seen. Next, they see the whole phrase REMOTE NATIONS, so their interest is even more piqued because if they first doubted the foreignness of the places in the book, they now know there is greater chance they will never have seen, or maybe even heard, of these places. The brief summary of the four books verifies their assumption, even introducing them to magical imaginary places. A C18 reader would buy this book expecting adventure and introductions to creative imagined characters and places.
As Dema said, it is interesting that his account the mutiny and how he came to be upon the shore is so short. It was also interesting to me how he only seemed a little bit bothered and worried by it, and after he rests on the shore and thinks about what he should do, he pretty much forgets that he has just been dumped, alone, in a completely unknown land.
I was really shocked when he began attempting to communicate with the Houyhnhnms, and even tried to imitate the horses' neighing. What was even more striking to me was his aversion to the Yahoos. I haven't read Gulliver's Travels before, but I can definitely see this being important later on, and I'm interested to see how this progresses.
Gulliver is obviously a curious explorer, who takes careful notice of everything new that he encounters, but that does not mean that he does not judge or is accepting, as we can see in his attitude towards the Yahoos. He describes their physical characteristics and behaviors, but that is as far as his interest goes because for some reason he is completely disgusted by them.
To me, Gulliver doesn't seem to come off as a strong character, but he isn't very foolish or irrational either. One evidence that indicates his lack of strength in character is how easily he is overtaken by his crewmen. He seems to be very scared and unable to defend himself as he tells his captors, "I'm your prisoner, and would submit" (350). He is basically tied up and forced to be silent. He seems to be resolute in listening to them based on the fact that one of the men has a gun to shoot him if he tries to "attempt liberty." I suppose he would have no choice, since he is severely outnumbered, but Gulliver doesn't seem to plan anything during his confinement. He doesn't have any plans to try to escape or try to gain back control of his ship. He just sits there dumbly, only expecting the worst.
He is, however, very prepared in case he is put into a difficult situation, such as being stranded on a strange island. This is shown when he makes sure to take some riches with him. He even says that he will "[resolve] to deliver [himself] to the first savages [he] should meet, and purchase [his] life from them by some bracelets, glass rings, and other toys" (351).
This also tells me that he doesn't seem to be much of a greedy person because he's willing to give up his jewelry and money for security. He didn't take his jewelry just for the sake of having them, but rather to use it when necessary. And since he has a wife with child back at home, I would assume that he took on the job of being a captain to a ship to receive money so he could support his family.
Question 1: Comparing the title page of a C18 to today's title pages, it would not get too many reads as far of attraction wise. The title page during that time though would attract the attention of many. First off, it has large text on it, when someone takes a glance at it, it stops them in their traces. The title also offers a interesting concept, that during that time people would have wanted to read about. It offered a look into different areas where people could and may have not been. This allows them to place themselves in the situations and locations that the speaker describes. Secondly, without the title page, there is nothing else that forces individuals to read it. People would not want to read a book that has no title, they would actually have to begin reading the book to get a guess of what it may be about. The title of the book sells itself.
Question 1: The title page is different from most of the popular books in today’s society. It does not advertisement for the story by use of colors or images. C18 readers were accustomed to identifying with literal messages instead of visual ones. The bold, huge words “travels” and “world” would persuade readers to invest in the book as long as were interested in adventure and discoveries. The editors for the title page had to be particularly careful with their use of diction since the words they chose would cause consumers to buy their book or pass it up. Also, the words on the title page left little room for interpretation from the potential readers regarding the theme for the story. The title page was blunt, direct, and literally black and white with what future readers should expect when reading the story.
Question 1: As Celeste has meantioned that this title pasge is very different from alot of books that are common in today's society. However, I think since Gulliver's Travels is a political satire this has influenced the editors of the title page to not reveal too much about what they expect to read in but enough to convey an idea that this literature piece could possibly be very interesting. Therefore I think that the use of print (huge words) has contributed to why they choose to create this particular title page.
Question 2: While reading the first chapter of the excerpt, "Gulliver's Travels" in Longman, Lemuel Gulliver appears to be a poor young man but has earned an education which gives him enough knowledge and the opportunity to advance in life as the position he is in the English society. According to the personal characteristics that Lemuel Gulliver displays he has fear against the Lilliputians, is gullible, as well as an adventurer. Hence, I think that Gulliver isn't really brave and appears to posses a real passive character.
Lemuel Gulliver is not strong, he seems to be if anything a bit of a corward, shown by the fact that when his crew attacked him he "told them, [he] was their prisoner and would submit"(350). This shows that Gulliver is not an irrational man who does things based on emotions alone. When Gulliver is kicked out from the ship he takes objects of little value and a bit of cash. One thing that does become apparent is the fact that he considers it easy to win over the locals, the masters of these horses with small trinkets of little value. I believe that he underestimates, just how civilized a foreign country can be. He considers the inhabitants to be barbarian. The horses are there to serve as a strong contrast of which he believes people are civilized people. I think the horses are there to show a difference in thinking and how to them Gulliver is the inferior creature.
Someone previously mentioned how incredibly detailed and through Gulliver is, which is something I didn't even think to describe him as until I read that. It is so true, however, as he does take every opportunity provided to describe his surroundings, what is occuring to him and who is apart of his surroundings. Especially when thrust onto the island, having no idea where he is or what types of animals are there, he takes care to describe to readers all of the unbelievable creatures and occurances that happen to him.
He seems very level headed, but curious. He is not afraid to explore and get a little closer to the unknown, yet he still has cautious undertones and seems to realize he could be putting himself in danger. When he was a prisoner on the boat, he did not seem to be scared at the idea of being held with a chance of death in a little cabin room, or at the idea of giving up his freedom for an unknow period of time.
Fearlessness, curiousity and smarts makes for a good and interesting traveler, which is probably why he makes such a good protagonist in this novel.
The title page gives an idea of what the book is about, highlighting words of particular interest (travels, world) to only make it more enticing. By giving the reader a mild clue of what adventures the book holds, there is a greater incentive for the reader to actually go on to read the book for the assumption is that it will elaborate on the tidbits told on the front cover.
Not having much background with the other books of Gulliver's Travels, its too early for me to say that Gulliver is a fearless explorer. I saw him as more of a cowardly person that has a sense of curiosity at this point in the book. As Gary previously mentioned, Gulliver put up no fight on his boat when his men seized the ship from him. Not to say it wasn't a smart ting to do in order to survive, he still didn't show any resistance to what happened to him.
However, Gulliver did show some bravery and intelligence when he first came to the island. He observed the strange creatures, and didn't make any rash decisions when they approached him. He could have easily used his sword on the creature when it approached him, but he simply hit him with the flat part of the sword in order to not cause any real damage.
It also took some bravery the way he treated his encounter with the horses. He stayed calm when they began to "speak: to each other and even tried to learn part of the language.
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