Final answer:
Swift parodies travel books by exaggerating and satirizing their content through absurdity and humor, mirroring the approach of writers like Mark Twain, who also used humor and hyperbole for social and political commentary.
Step-by-step explanation:
The parody of travel books in Swift's works, such as Gulliver's Travels, imitates the extravagant and often fictitious accounts of exotic destinations typical of travel literature of his time. However, Swift exaggerates these accounts to the point of absurdity, thereby satirizing the genre. He also uses linguistic indeterminacy and a play within the narrative structure, which are characteristics of the influential travel texts of the era. The humor in his satirical approach both entertains and provides commentary on contemporary issues and worldviews, drawing on the readers' sense of irony and critical reflection.
For example, Mark Twain's Roughing It! and Innocents Abroad also use humor, exaggeration, and satirical elements to entertain while providing insights into the author's travels and the broader American experience. Twain's use of regional humor, exaggerated storytelling, and the outsider narrative parallel Swift's method, albeit with a uniquely American twist. By using hyperbole and other rhetorical devices, writers like Swift and Twain deliver their social and political commentary in a manner that is both engaging and provocative.