1. Reading Lesson

Gulliver Is Shipwrecked

My father had a small estate in Nottinghamshire. He sent me to college at fourteen years old, where I resided three years.

I then studied with an eminent surgeon; and with his encouragement I settled in London after a time. My good master recommended patients to me; but in two years he died, and my business began to fail. I accepted an offer from Captain William Pritchard, master of the Antelope, who was making a voyage to the South Sea. We set sail from Bristol, May 14,1699, and our voyage at first was very prosperous.

In our passage we were driven by a violent storm to the northwest of Van Diemen's Land. On the fifth of November, which was the beginning of summer in those parts, the seamen spied a rock; but the wind was so strong that we were driven directly upon it, and immediately split.

Six of the crew, of whom I was one, made a shift to get clear of the ship and the rock. We rowed till we were able to work no longer. In about half an hour the boat was overset by a sudden flurry from the north. What became of my companions in the boat I cannot tell. For my own part I swam as fortune directed me, and was pushed forward by wind and tide. When I was able to struggle no longer, I found myself within my depth; and by this time the storm was much abated.

I walked near a mile before I got to the shore, which I conjectured was about eight o'clock in the evening. I was extremely tired, and lay down on the grass, where I slept, as I reckoned, about nine hours, for when I wakened it was just daylight.

I attempted to rise, but was not able to stir; for I found my arms and legs were strongly fastened on each side to the ground; and my hair, which was long and thick, was tied down in the same manner. I could only look upwards, the sup. began to grow hot, and the light offended my eyes. I heard a confused noise about me, but in the posture I lay could see nothing except the sky. In a little time I felt something alive moving on my left leg, which, advancing gently forward over my breast, came almost up to my chin. Bending my eyes downward as much as I could, I perceived it to be a human creature not six inches high, with a bow and arrow in his hands and a quiver at his back. In the meantime I felt at least forty more of the same kind following the first.

I was in the utmost astonishment and roared so loud that they all ran back in a fright. However they soon returned; and one of them, who ventured so far as to get a full sight of my face, lifting up his hands and eyes by way of admiration, cried out in a shrill voice, "Hekinah degul"; but I knew not what he meant.

I lay all this while in great uneasiness; at length, struggling to get loose, I had the fortune to break the strings and wrench out the pegs that fastened my left arm to the ground. But the creatures ran off a second time before I could seize them; whereupon there was a great shout, and. after it had ceased I heard one of them cry aloud, "Tolgo phonac"; when in an instant I felt about an hundred arrows discharged on my left hand, which pricked me like so many needles.

I thought it the most prudent method to lie still till night, when, my left hand being already loose, I could easily free myself.

- Gulliver's Travels, Adapted.

2. Study

South Sea, The Pacific Ocean

Why was Captain Pritchard's ship called the Antelope? See if you can trace the journey from England to Van Diemen's Land on a map of the world.

What season begins with us in November?

3. Word Study

Find these words in the story, and then write what each one means: resided abated astonishment violent posture ceased.

4. Story Telling

Be ready to tell one of these stories to the class:

1. Gulliver's life before he went to sea.

2. The wreck and Gulliver's escape.

3. His first morning on the island.

6. Written Work

1. Make a list of the things which make you know how small these people were.

2. Write what you think these words in the story mean:

Hekinah degul

Tolgo phonac

3. Write a conversation that several of the little people might have had when they found Gulliver asleep.

4. Write the last part of the story, using this outline. Make one paragraph for each topic.

a. What happened while Gulliver was asleep. 6. How he discovered the strange creatures.

c. What thev did.

d. How vou think thev felt.

6. Reading Lesson

Gulliver Is Cared For

When the people observed I was quiet, they discharged no more arrows. One of them made me a long speech, are of I understood not one syllable. I answered in a few words, and being almost famished with hunger, I could not forbear showing my impatience by putting my finger frequently to my mouth to signify that I wanted food.

The Hurgo, or great lord, understood me very well. He commanded that several ladders should be applied to my sides, on which above an hundred of the inhabitants mounted, and walked toward my mouth, laden with baskets full of meat which had been provided by the king's orders. I took three loaves at a time about the bigness of musket bullets. They supplied me as they could, showing a thousand marks of wonder and astonishment at my appetite.

I then made another sign that I wanted drink. They found by my eating that a small quantity would not suffice me, and being a most ingenious people, they flung up with great dexterity one of their largest hogsheads, then rolled it towards my hand and beat out the top. I drank it off at a draught, which I might well do, for it did not hold half a pint. They brought me a second hogshead, which I drank in the same manner and made signs for more; but they had none to give me. When I had performed these wonders, they shouted for joy, and danced upon my breast, repeating several times, as they did at first, "Hekinah degul."

After some time, when they observed that I made no more demands for meat, there appeared before me a person of high rank, who spoke about ten minutes, often pointing forwards, towards the capital city whither I was to be conveyed. I made a sign with my hand that was loose, to signify that I desired my liberty. He made other signs to let me know that I should have meat and drink enough, and very good treatment.

It seems- that, upon the first moment I was discovered after my landing, the Emperor had notice of it, and determined that plenty of meat and drink should be sent to me and a machine prepared to carry me to the capital city. Five hundred carpenters and engineers were set to work to prepare the greatest engine they had. It was a frame of wood raised three inches from the ground, about seven feet long and four wide, moving upon twenty-two wheels. But the principal difficulty was to raise and place me upon this vehicle. Eighty poles, each one foot high, were erected for this purpose, and very strong cords of the bigness of pack threads were fastened by hooks to many bandages which the workmen had girt round my neck, my hands, my body, and my legs. Nine hundred men were employed to draw up these cords by many pulleys fastened on the poles; and thus in less than three hours I was raised, flung upon the engine, and there tied fast. Fifteen hundred of the Emperor's largest horses, each about four inches and a half high, were employed to draw me to the capital city, half a mile distant. We arrived at the city gates about noon the next day, and the Emperor and all his court came out to meet us.

7. Study

Why did the people stop shooting arrows at Gulliver? What does meat mean here?

Why were they so surprised at his appetite? Why would they not set him free? Describe the way that they moved him. How do you think Gulliver felt?

8. Exercises

1. Tell how large you think these articles were: The loaves of bread.

The hogsheads.

The ladders.

The strong cords, or ropes.

2. Make up some other signs Gulliver might have used to show his hunger.

Tell what sign you think he used to ask for freedom.

3. Write conversations to take the place of the signs used in the story. Be sure to use quotation marks if you need them.

4. Write sentences containing these words: prepare frequently.

famished draught.

Change the sentences, using words that mean about the same in place of those in the list.

9. Composition

Tell or write these parts of the story: a. How Gulliver was fed.

b. How he was moved to the city.