Topics for English Language Learners – EFL and ESL Materials and Topics
Gulliver’s Travels for ESL Students
Table of Contents
Gulliver’s Travels is one of the most famous works in English literature. Although it is often read as an adventure story, it is also a powerful satire that explores human nature, politics, and society.
A Concise Biography of Jonathan Swift
Jonathan Swift (1667–1745) was an Anglo-Irish writer, satirist, and essayist. He is best known for Gulliver’s Travels, published in 1726. Swift used humor, irony, and exaggeration to criticize society, politics, and human behavior.
He often published his works anonymously or under pseudonyms, including the fictional name Lemuel Gulliver, the narrator of Gulliver’s Travels. Swift’s writing remains influential because it encourages readers to question authority, social values, and human pride.
A Concise Summary of Gulliver’s Travels
Gulliver’s Travels is about a man who visits strange lands. Each place shows a different side of human behavior and teaches a lesson about society and human nature.
Gulliver’s Travels follows Lemuel Gulliver, a ship’s surgeon who travels to strange and imaginary lands after a series of shipwrecks.
- In Lilliput, he meets people who are only six inches tall.
- In Brobdingnag, he lives among giants.
- Later, he visits Laputa, a flying island of scientists.
- Finally, he reaches the land of the Houyhnhnms, intelligent horses who rule over humans called Yahoos.
Through these journeys, Swift shows the strengths and weaknesses of human society.
Main Themes in Gulliver’s Travels
Here are the main themes in the novel:
1. Human Nature
Swift shows that humans can be proud, foolish, cruel, and irrational, even when they believe they are civilized.
2. Power and Politics
The book criticizes political conflict, corruption, and meaningless rules, especially through the small people of Lilliput.
3. Perspective and Relativity
Size and point of view matter. What seems important in one society may seem ridiculous in another.
4. Reason vs. Emotion
In the land of the Houyhnhnms, reason controls life, raising questions about whether humans are truly rational beings.
Classroom Activities for ESL Students
1. Reading Activities
- Simplified reading comprehension with true/false or multiple-choice questions
- Chapter summaries for each voyage
→ Explore more information about Gulliver’s Travels
2. Vocabulary Activities
- Match key words (e.g. giant, voyage, ruler, society, satire) with definitions
- Guess meaning from context exercises
→ Check this full glossary for Gulliver’s Travels
3. Speaking Activities
Here are a few Gulliver’s Travels discussion questions:
- Which land did you find the most interesting? Why?
- Do you agree with Swift’s view of human nature?
- Which land did you find the most interesting? Why?
- Which land would you like to visit? Why or why not?
- How are the people in Lilliput different from people today?
- Do you think Swift criticizes society or human behavior? Give one example.
- Which character or group did you like the most? Why?
- Do you agree with Swift’s view of human nature? Why or why not?
→ Here are more discussion questions and answers about the novel.
Writing Activities
- Write a short summary of one voyage.
- Imagine a new land that Gulliver could visit and describe it.
- Why does Gulliver keep traveling despite his many misfortunes?
- What was the original purpose of Gulliver’s voyage?
→ Here are more writing topics.
Critical Thinking
- Compare Lilliput and modern society
- Discuss whether Gulliver’s Travels is still relevant today
FAQs – Gulliver’s Travels (for ESL Students)
What is the story of Gulliver’s Travels?
It is the story of Lemuel Gulliver, a traveler who visits strange lands and learns important lessons about society and human behavior.
What is a very short summary of Gulliver’s Travels?
A man travels to imaginary worlds, and each world shows a different problem in human society.
Where did Gulliver go after Lilliput?
After Lilliput, Gulliver travels to Brobdingnag, a land of giants.
What is the deeper meaning of Gulliver’s Travels?
The deeper meaning is a criticism of human pride, politics, and social systems. Swift uses fantasy to show real-world problems.
What is the moral or main message of Gulliver’s Travels?
The main message is that humans are not as rational or moral as they believe, and society often needs self-reflection.
What grade level reading is Gulliver’s Travels?
The original text is usually read at upper secondary or university level, but simplified versions are suitable for A2–B1 ESL learners.
What is Gulliver’s Travels simplified?
A simplified version uses shorter sentences, easier vocabulary, and fewer cultural references, making the story accessible to ESL students.
Related Pages
- Gulliver’s Travels (+ Free Ebook)
- Literary Resources