Setting
Gulliver's Travels
by Jonathan Swift

Gulliver's Travels: Setting 1 key example

Definition of Setting

Setting is where and when a story or scene takes place. The where can be a real place like the city of New York, or it can be an imagined... read full definition
Setting is where and when a story or scene takes place. The where can be a real place like the city of New York, or... read full definition
Setting is where and when a story or scene takes place. The where can be a real place like the... read full definition
Setting
Explanation and Analysis:

Gulliver's Travels takes place during the early 18th century, which marked a dramatic shift in the British political landscape. Gulliver first sets sail from England in 1699, during the reign of Queen Anne, and makes his final return in 1715, during the reign of King George I. Queen Anne strongly favored the conservative Tory party, and while she sat on the throne from 1665 to 1714, the Tories wielded considerable political control. Anne's successor, King George I, did not share her political sympathies, instead favoring the liberal Whig party. Following George's accession to the throne, the Whigs came to dominate English politics, drastically reducing the role of the Tories. Jonathan Swift satirizes this struggle between Tories and Whigs at numerous points throughout the novel.