Amazed

PeterL · 11-20-2007, 03:45 PM

I just wandered into this section to see what people had to say about one of the grestest writers in the history of the English language. I was shocked and amazed to find that most people thought the Gulliver's Travels was boring. Then I read a few more notes and realized that the readers didn't have the necessary background to understand the book. It does require some understanding of England of that time, including the governmental and religious institutions. It also requires that the reader be able to understand that most of the characters are relatively flat and represent something other than a simple character. A large part of the first section is about the insignificant differences between the Catholic Church and the Church of England and how those differences separated the English and Irish in Ireland. Remember that Dean Swift was the Dean of St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin and one of the leaders of the Church of England in a subjugated Ireland, but his sympathy was for the Irish people. Remember also that there was a price on his head when he wrote The Drapier's Letters.

Etienne · 11-20-2007, 03:51 PM

Someone who think Gulliver's Travels is boring probably finds reading boring, except maybe that Harry Potter they pride themselves in reading.

The Atheist · 12-03-2007, 01:38 PM

Hear, hear!

Gulliver's Travels boring?

If not the greatest book written in English, I doubt there would be many serious literary critics who wouldn't have it in their top few.

Every part of it offers an outstanding portrait of some human frailty, and in the case of the Houynhnyms, all of them.

on JKR, Etienne.

11-20-2007, 03:45 PM	#1
PeterL Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Tau-Ceti 3 Posts: 4,020 Blog Entries: 38	Amazed I just wandered into this section to see what people had to say about one of the grestest writers in the history of the English language. I was shocked and amazed to find that most people thought the Gulliver's Travels was boring. Then I read a few more notes and realized that the readers didn't have the necessary background to understand the book. It does require some understanding of England of that time, including the governmental and religious institutions. It also requires that the reader be able to understand that most of the characters are relatively flat and represent something other than a simple character. A large part of the first section is about the insignificant differences between the Catholic Church and the Church of England and how those differences separated the English and Irish in Ireland. Remember that Dean Swift was the Dean of St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin and one of the leaders of the Church of England in a subjugated Ireland, but his sympathy was for the Irish people. Remember also that there was a price on his head when he wrote The Drapier's Letters. __________________ "A man is never more truthful than when he acknowledges himself a liar." Mark Twain

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Is it necessary to read critically?	kilted exile	General Literature	145	07-20-2009 02:01 AM

11-20-2007, 03:51 PM	#2
Etienne Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 953	Someone who think Gulliver's Travels is boring probably finds reading boring, except maybe that Harry Potter they pride themselves in reading.

12-03-2007, 01:38 PM	#3
The Atheist Orwellian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: The George Orwell sub-forum Posts: 2,062	Hear, hear! Gulliver's Travels boring? If not the greatest book written in English, I doubt there would be many serious literary critics who wouldn't have it in their top few. Every part of it offers an outstanding portrait of some human frailty, and in the case of the Houynhnyms, all of them. on JKR, Etienne.