7. Explanation of paragraphs

Gulliver was a doctor who worked in ships, for giving treatment as and when necessary to the passengers. Ships usually travel on long journeys, for months together. Hence doctors travel on such trips for the safety of everyone on board. The journey was going on well. Suddenly there was a rough storm, and it changed the whole scene to a great extent. The ship missed its route and dashed on a rock. The ship broke into pieces.

 

Luckily, six of the employees, including Gulliver, managed to find a small boat, and they started rowing.

 

  

However, a big wave sprung up suddenly and threw the boat upside down! But Gulliver did not give up; he was very good at swimming. He swam until he found land.

 

The coast where he had ended up seemed strange and deserted. Gulliver walked with difficulty along the coast and searched for people or any houses, to ask for help. But he could not find a single living soul in sight. Hungry and tired, Gulliver fell on a grassy land and went to sleep. He went into a deep sleep due to his tiredness from the swimming.

 

When he woke up, he found that he was lying on the ground flat and facing the sun. He tried to get up, but he was not able to sit or make any movement at all. He was frightened and surprised that he could not move. When he turned his head, he saw that his hands and legs were tied firm to thin sticks on each side and attached to some clips on the ground. His long and bushy hair was also tied down. He felt that there was some movement on his body, near his chin. He was surprised to see very tiny human beings who were less than six inches in height. They had bows, arrows and a case for holding it, at their back.

 

Gulliver found out later that they were called Lilliputians. Shocked on seeing these tiny people, Gulliver shouted and somehow got his left arm freed from their clutches. The Lilliputians got frightened by his screams, and in defence, they started shooting small arrows into Gulliver's hands, face and body, until he quietened down. The tiny people built a stage which was about \(1.5\) feet tall near Gulliver. An important person from their island stood on the stage and spoke to Gulliver for \(10\) minutes in their language. Gulliver did not understand a single word.

 

Gulliver's hunger had increased as time passed. He made signs to the little people that he wanted something to eat and drink. The Lilliputians made Gulliver promise that he will behave well and that he will not harm them. Then they promised to get him some food. They brought many baskets full of meat, small loaves of bread and two barrels of drink. Remember that they are tiny people - so the loaves and barrels were also tiny! Gulliver had to eat three loaves of bread at a time because it was so small. The barrels' size was less than the size of a glass!

 

Gulliver wanted to crush some fifty people on the ground, as he lay there looking at them. But he remembered the punishment - they made small piercings with their arrows. Remembering his promise to behave well with them, he controlled his desire to crush them.

 

  

Gulliver slept off again after eating because the Lilliputians had mixed a sleeping dose in his drink. They wanted to move Gulliver to their capital city. The used a huge raised surface with \(22\) wheels which was pulled by \(12\) tiny horses of about \(4.5\) inches! With much difficulty, they dragged him on the platform and moved him to the city. Gulliver suddenly woke up when the vehicle stopped. A few Lilliputians were curious to see Gulliver's face when he was asleep. They went up to the engine and proceeded slowly and softly towards his face. When they reached near his face, they put the sharp-tip of their small iron weapon, into his left nostril. It made Gulliver ticklish, and he sneezed. The vehicle started moving again.

 

Gulliver noticed that nearly one lakh Lilliputians had gathered to see him, the strange giant. It seemed like a festival, and the Lilliputians were enjoying themselves. But Gulliver found it funny and entertaining.

 

Finally, they reached the Emperor's palace. He came out to welcome Gulliver. He was allowed to stay in an old, unused temple. They tied his legs in chains and was allowed movement for a short distance only. Some weeks passed, and the Lilliputians and their king realized that Gulliver had no intentions to attack them. So they set him free to roam around the island Lilliput with the condition that he should not harm them but help them, in all possible ways. They gave him food, water and built a house for him to stay. Gulliver started living with them; he helped them by all means.

 

Once the king of Blefuscu, a neighbouring kingdom, declared war on Lilliput. The king had arranged for a hundred ships to start the attack. The Lilliputians asked Gulliver for his help. The Emperor also told him not to let them down as they needed his help.

 

  

Gulliver walked into the sea. He tied all the hundred ships together, with a long rope and started dragging them into the water. Gulliver pulled them the whole day in the same manner, going in rounds. The Blefuscu army became giddy and tired because of the round movements.

 

 

They lost their energy to fight, and they surrendered. The King of Blefuscu came crying to the Lilliput King for peace between the two kingdoms. The Emperor agreed, and the Lilliputians praised Gulliver as their hero. He lived in Lilliput for many years peacefully.

 

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