Maharashtra Board Class 5 English Balbharti Unit Two Chapter 13 The Adventures of Gulliver PDF Download

The Adventures of Gulliver

Gulliver's Travels is an interesting book written by a well-known English writer, Jonathan Swift. In which he describes the voyages of Gulliver to various lands like Lilliput and Brobdingnag. Though the character of Gulliver and these strange sounding lands are imaginary, Gulliver's experiences and adventures are written so well that they seem real and true to life.

Gulliver, the story tells us, worked as a surgeon on ships. As such, he made several voyages. In May 1699, he sailed on the ship 'The Antelope'. On the return journey, in November, a violent storm sank his ship and Gulliver swam to save his life. Late in the evening, he found himself marooned on a strange land. Weak and exhausted, he slept for about nine hours. It was daylight when he awoke.

Let us read what happened next in his own words.

Gulliver Meets the Lilliputians

'I tried to get up from the ground, but I could not move! I was lying on my back. Then I found that my arms and feet were held down to the ground with strings. My hair, which was long, was held down in the same way. Thousands of strings had been passed across my body, so that I could not move any part of me, but could only lie there on my back looking up at the sky.

In a little time, I felt something alive moving on my foot. Then it came over my body and up to my face. Turning my eyes down as much as I could, I saw a man. He was not half a foot high. By his dress, he seemed to be a soldier. Then there came forty more, following the first.

I was so much surprised that I gave a great cry. Then they all ran back in great fear; and (as I was told later) some of them were hurt in jumping down from my side on to the ground.'

Teacher's Note

This story is like when a very tall person visits a village of small people. Just like in your school, when a very big basketball player visits, all the children are surprised!

Exam Trick

Remember: Lilliput = very small people. Think of it like this: if you were 1000 times bigger than your friend, how scared would he be? That is how Lilliputians felt when they saw Gulliver!

Points to Remember

Gulliver was a surgeon who traveled on ships.
A storm sank his ship and he swam to a strange land.
He woke up and found strings holding his body down.
Tiny people called Lilliputians had tied him up.
He could only move his eyes when he first woke up.

Gulliver Attempts to Pull Free

'After pulling very hard I got one arm up from the ground. I also raised my head; this gave me great pain for many of the hairs were pulled out. I put out my hand to catch some of the little men; but they ran away before I could close my hand on them. Then I heard a noise, and felt a pricking in my hand like that of a thousand needles. I found that they were shooting arrows at me. I was afraid for my eyes. I put my hand over my face. After this, I thought that the wisest thing to do was to lie quiet till night. I thought that then, my hand being free, I could quickly set free the rest of my body.

Soon a platform was raised and an important-looking man gave a long speech. From his gestures, I guessed that he was trying to tell me that they would not harm me, if I did as they told. I too, replied with gestures that I would remain quiet. I also told them that I was hungry.'

Gulliver Eats a Giant Meal

'At once, a hundred men climbed up on to my body and marched up to my mouth, carrying food. The bread was as small as bullets. So I ate two or three loaves at a time and cries of surprise rose from the Lilliputians that I should eat so quickly and so much. The Lilliputians were no longer afraid of me. They danced upon my body and ran to and fro. I could have caught at least forty of them with my hands and thrown them down. But I remembered my promise to remain quiet. Indeed, I was surprised at their bravery for I must have seemed the greatest giant in the world.

Later, I was taken to the city where the king lived. A great cart was made by joining many carts. Nine hundred men worked for three hours to put me on to the cart which was drawn by fifteen hundred of the king's finest horses. The city was just half a mile away but the journey took almost a full day.'

Teacher's Note

Imagine you are so big that ants have to climb on you! Just like how we see insects in our garden, Gulliver saw tiny people on his body. This makes the story very interesting!

Exam Trick

Remember: Gulliver is so big that 100 tiny men can fit on his body and walk to his mouth! Think of it like 100 ants on your hand - that is how small Lilliputians are compared to Gulliver!

Points to Remember

Gulliver tried to break free by pulling his arms.
The tiny people shot arrows at him when he moved.
A man gave a speech asking Gulliver to stay quiet.
Gulliver promised to be quiet and not hurt them.
He ate food that was as small as bullets to the tiny people.

Gulliver's New Home

'The king came out to meet me; he came near and looked at me, but it was not thought safe for him to climb up on me.

At the place where the cart stopped there was an old church. It was the largest building in the whole country. For certain reasons, it had not been used as a church for many years. It had now been made ready for me to use as my house. The great door on the north was four feet high and two feet wide. So, I could go into it by going down on my hand. One of my feet was set in a great ring on the end of many strong strings so that I could not get away, but could only walk some distance outside my door. The country outside looked like a garden.

After some days, the king and his people were convinced that I would not harm them. So, after I agreed to keep certain 'orders' of the king, I was allowed to move around.'

Gulliver Visits the City and the Queen

'As soon as I was set free I asked if I might see the city. The king was pleased to let me do this. Orders were given to all the people to remain in their houses. I then stepped over the wall, and went very carefully, along the two largest streets. All the windows were full of faces looking out at me, and large numbers of people were standing on the tops of the houses. The king's house was just at the place where two great streets met. There was a beautiful garden on all sides of it. Lying down in the garden I put my eye to the windows. The rooms inside were very beautiful. In one room, I saw the queen and some of the young princes. They were greatly pleased by my visit.'

Teacher's Note

When Gulliver walks through the city, he is so tall that he can see into windows of buildings. It is like when you look down at toys in a toy shop from above!

Exam Trick

Remember: Gulliver is so big that he has to go down on his hand to enter a door. He has to lie down on the ground just to see into windows of houses. That shows how tiny everything is in Lilliput!

Points to Remember

An old church became Gulliver's home in Lilliput.
His foot was tied with strings so he could not go far.
The king gave him orders to follow and he agreed.
All the people came out of their houses to see him.
Gulliver saw the queen and young princes in a beautiful room.

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