1. Reading Lesson

Gulliver Leaves The Islands

When I was preparing to pay my attendance on the Emperor of Blefuscu, I sent a letter to the secretary, signifying my resolution of setting out. Without waiting for an answer, I went to that side of the island where our fleet lay.

I seized a large man-of-war, tied a cable to the prow, and lifting, up the anchors, I stripped myself, put my clothes, together with my coverlet which I brought under my arm, into the vessel. Drawing the boat after me, between wading and swimming I arrived at the royal port of

Blefuscu, where the people had long expected me; they lent me two guides to direct me to the capital city.

Three days after my arrival, walking out of curiosity to the northeast coast of the island, I observed, about half a league off, something that looked like a boat overturned. I pulled off my shoes and stockings, and wading two or three hundred yards, I found the object to approach nearer by force of the tide; and then plainly saw it to be a real boat, which I suppose might, by some tempest, have been driven from a ship. Whereupon I returned immediately toward the city, and desired his imperial majesty to lend me twenty of the tallest vessels he had left after the loss of his fleet, and three thousand seamen.

When the ships came up, I stripped myself and waded till I came within a hundred yards of the boat, after which I was forced to swim till I got up to it. The seamen threw me the end of the cord, which I fastened to a hole in the fore-part of the boat, and the other end to a man-of-war. But I found all my labor to little purpose; for being out of my depth, I was not able to work. In this necessity, I was forced to swim behind and push the boat forward as often as I could with one of my hands. The tide favored me, and I advanced so far that I could just hold up my chin and feel the ground. I rested two or three minutes, and then gave the boat another shove, and so on, till the sea was no higher than my armpits; and now, the most laborious part over, I took out my other cables which were stowed in one of the ships, and fastened them to the boat, and then to nine of the vessels which attended me. The wind being favorable, the seamen towed and I shoved, till we arrived within forty yards of the shore. Waiting till the tide was out, by the assistance of two thousand men with ropes and engines, I made a shift to turn it on its bottom, and found it was but little damaged.

Having prepared all things as well as I was able, I set sail on the twenty-fourth day of September, 1701, at six in the morning. The next day I steered the same course, but discovered nothing. The next day, about three, I descried a sail steering to the southeast. I made all the sail I could, and in half an hour she spied me. The ship slackened her sails and as I came up with her my heart leaped within me to see her English colors.% I put the cows and sheep I had brought with me into my coat pockets and got on board, and we arrived in England on the thirteenth of April, 1702.

2. Study

Give reasons for the way Gulliver prepared to leave the island. Why was he well received at Blefuscu? How did he feel while there? What did finding the boat make him think of?

Why did he put the cows and sheep into his pockets?

What do you think of Gulliver for setting out on the ocean alone in an open boat? Why did he do it? How long had he been away?

3. Story Telling

Imagine yourself Gulliver, and the class your friends in England. Describe some of the experiences of your journey to them. These topics may help you to remember the different parts:

1. The wreck.

2. The discovery of Gulliver.

3. His removal to the city.

4. Providing him with food.

5. Making his clothes.

6. Searching him.

7. The battle.

8. The return home,

4. Written Composition

Write the story of Gulliver's escape. Here are some topics that may help you, if you first put them in the right order.

1. The finding of the boat.

2. The danger at Lilliput.

3. The granting of permission by the emperor.

4. The help of the sailors.

5. The journey to Blefuscu.

6. The preparations for the ocean trip.

5. Drawing

Make maps of the islands, and of Gulliver's journeys.