Bedside Lamp English Learning Reader II: Gulliver's Travels (English-Chinese Contrastive)

Author: (English) Jonathan Swift
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-05-01
Features: Gulliver's thrilling adventures begin when he encounters a fierce storm at sea and is cast into the ocean. He struggles to swim to a small island, only to discover it's a tiny, strange land called "Lilliput." The people there are only about five or six inches tall. Initially, 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 "Man-Mountain," and allows him to roam the island freely. Gulliver observes some absurd customs on the island: officials' promotions depend on their skill in walking tightropes; the island is divided into two political factions: the "High-Heeled Party" and the "Low-Heeled Party," who wear corresponding shoes. The intense conflict between Lilliput and its neighboring countries stems from a trivial dispute over whether to crack an egg on the big end or the small end, causing many to die or flee their homes. Gulliver helps the Lilliputian king defeat their enemies and resolve the conflict peacefully, but the king then demands 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 tiny country and returns to his own homeland.
In his second voyage, Gulliver is again shipwrecked on 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 himself is on the brink of 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 highly 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 size 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 harmony, educating their children with equality and love, free from war and lies. In contrast, the humanoid "Yahoos" living there are savage, evil, thieves, and destructive, feeding on dirty vegetables and animal carcasses. Gulliver lives among the clean, peaceful, and simple Houyhnhnms, so much so that he forgets to return, but he is eventually expelled for being deemed a "Yahoo." With a lingering fondness for the Houyhnhnms and a growing disdain for human life, Gulliver returns to his homeland—England.