Jonathan Swift was born on November 30, 1667, in Dublin, Ireland. Throughout his life, he tried to achieve political distinction in
Ireland and the nearby country of England, but he was generally unsuccessful in his attempts. Swift did find success, however,
in his writing. He wrote many books, essays, and pamphlets during his lifetime. Often, he used his writing to censure the
individuals, society, and politics of his time.
One of Swift's most famous literary works is the book Gulliver's Travels, which he wrote as a travel narrative, a popular genre
at the time it was published. By using the travel narrative genre, Swift was able to achieve his purposes while keeping them
hidden. Why did Swift want to hide his purposes? It may be that he did not want people to know they were being educated and
often mocked. If his audience had known, they may not have read his masterpiece, and Gulliver's Travels would have been
lost forever.
Based on this passage, what could a reader infer about the time period in which Jonathan Swift lived?
O For the most part, people preferred to be involved in outdoor activities.
O People then, like now, did not appreciate being mocked.
O Few political jobs were available to common people.
O The travel narrative genre was neither well known nor widely read.