Jones, David Francis (1987) Swift's use of the literature of travel in the composition of "Gulliver's travels". PhD thesis, University of Warwick.

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Abstract

The primary aim of this thesis is to identify and assess
the correspondences which occur between Gulliver's Travels
and non fiction travel writing to which Swift is known to
have had access before and during the period of composition.
Books of travels listed by Harold Williams in Dean Swift's
Library (Cambridge, 1932) have been consulted. In particular,
the thesis examines the possible contribution of travel documents
published by Hakluyt and Purchas. The method of research
employed has been to concentrate upon themes such as
the veracity of travel writers, stylistic features, primitive
savages, strange islands, magic,attitudes to voyaging, bows
and arrows, pygmies and giants, motives for travel, law and
customs. The first chapter summarizes known and possible influences,
considering the broad combination of fabulous and
imaginary prose travel with Swift's mock realism. The second
chapter develops the analysis of literary parody and considers
the uneasy satirical relationship between travel lies and
Gulliver's ironic veracity, with particular reference to magic
and astrology. Chapters 3-7 comprise five regional studies
of several themes which have been considered of special relevance
to Gulliver's Travels, following this survey of travel
writing.
The conclusions reached in the course of the thesis relate
to the allusive power and ironic depth of Gulliver's Travels.
Whereas R.W. Frantz, W.A. Eddy, Arthur Sherbo and others have
noticed incidental parallels in real travel literature, no
comprehensive study exists of the subject as a whole. The
thesis treats Hakluyt and Purchas in detail in working towards
establishing the conventions of travel writing which are partly
imitated and partly mocked by Swift. The extent to which
it is intended that the reader should be conscious of the real
travel background is also explored. Although source hunting
can be an unprofitable activity, the large number of correspondences
between Gulliver's Travels and the literature of
real travel upon which the work is partly based suggest Swift
was more conversant with voyages and travels than may have
been presumed. These travel features appear to have been carefully
intermingled with recognizable Homeric, Rabelaisian and
Lucianic elements.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > G Geography (General) P Language and Literature > PR English literature
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Swift, Jonathan, 1667-1745. Gulliver's travels -- Criticism and interpretation, Travel in literature, Travel writing -- History -- 16th century, Hakluyt, Richard, 1552?-1616 -- Criticism and interpretation, Purchas, Samuel, 1577?-1626 -- Criticism and interpretation
Official Date:	September 1987
Dates:	Date Event September 1987 Submitted
Institution:	University of Warwick
Theses Department:	Department of English and Comparative Literary Studies
Thesis Type:	PhD
Publication Status:	Unpublished
Extent:	209 leaves
Language:	eng

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