Bedside Lamp English Learning Reader II: Gulliver's Travels (Pure English Version)

Author: Li Zhengshuan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-05-01
Features: Gulliver's thrilling adventures begin when he encounters a fierce storm at sea during his voyage. He is cast into the ocean and struggles to swim to a small island, which turns out to be a miniature country called "Lilliput." The people there are only about five or six inches tall. At first, they are filled with fear toward Gulliver, but his kindness and friendliness win them over. The king summons him, provides food and shelter, calls him a "Man-Mountain," and allows him to roam freely on the island. Gulliver observes some absurd phenomena on the island: officials' promotions depend on their skill in walking on tightropes; the island is divided into two political factions: the "High-Heeled Party" and the "Low-Heeled Party," who wear high heels and low heels, respectively. The intense conflict between Lilliput and its neighboring countries stems from the debate over whether to crack an egg on the big end or the small end, resulting in many deaths or forced exiles. Gulliver helps the Lilliputian king defeat their enemies and resolve their disputes peacefully, but the king then demands that Gulliver help him conquer the neighboring country to fulfill his own ambitions. After Gulliver refuses, the king orders him executed for treason. Gulliver finally escapes the and returns to his own country.
During his second voyage, another storm carries Gulliver to a giant island called "Brobdingnag." A farmer giant takes him in but forces him to perform for the giants to earn money. The greedy farmer giant grows rich from Gulliver, but Gulliver becomes exhausted and near death from hunger and exhaustion. At this point, the queen summons Gulliver and buys him from the farmer. Through conversation, Gulliver discovers that the king is knowledgeable and kind. He opposes predatory wars and advocates for enlightened monarchy. The queen and the farmer's daughter take good care of Gulliver's daily life. However, his small stature puts him in constant danger, and he is eventually snatched away by an eagle and leaves Brobdingnag.
Gulliver's third voyage takes him to a horse-dominated island called "Houyhnhnms." On this island, the "Houyhnhnms" live in friendship, helping one another and educating their children with equality and love. They have no war or lies. In contrast, the humanoid "Yahoos" living on the island are savage, evil, thieves, and destructive, eating dirty vegetables and animal corpses. Gulliver lives among the clean, peaceful, and simple Houyhnhnms and enjoys his time there, but he is expelled when he is mistaken for a Yahoo. With nostalgia for the Houyhnhnms and disgust for human life, Gulliver returns to his homeland—England.