Final answer:
When the author has Gulliver praise the emperor, the author is employing irony to criticize or mock the emperor and the system of government.
Step-by-step explanation:
In this context, when the author has Gulliver praise the emperor, the author is actually employing the literary device known as irony.
Irony is when the author says one thing, but means the opposite. In this case, the author is using Gulliver's praise of the emperor to subtly criticize or mock the emperor and the system of government in which he operates.
By having Gulliver praise the emperor, the author is highlighting the absurdity or flaws of the emperor's actions or character. This can be seen as a form of social or political commentary.