In Samuel Johnson’s preface to A Dictionary of the English Language, he makes many strong points about how powerful words are. How powerful are words and language? Why do you think the Johnson begins the preface by commenting on the “fate of the lower employment”? What relation does this have to the dictionary of the English language? Why do you think Johnson includes this sort of preface at all?

A lot of insight is brought about in book four by Swift. Why do you think that the yahoos are portrayed the way that they are? What is the bigger message that Swift is delivering about the relationship that Gulliver forms with the animals? How are these relationships formed? What is the significance of when the horses agree to stop calling Gulliver a “Yahoo”? and what is the significance of Gulliver not wanting to be associated with this word?

Throughout our readings in British literature so far, we have seen the role of women portrayed in various ways. In this particular reading, Margery Kempe  takes it upon herself to become so incredibly religious that she is criticized, mocked, and even uninvited to church events because of her weeping. Her name becomes very well known, which is something out of the ordinary for women of that time, however- do you think her new popularity reflects on women positively or negatively?

After reading the Wife of Bath’s Tale, we see that even though the knight does a terrible thing by raping a girl, he is given the chance to save himself by finding out what it is that women want- throughout his journey we learn a lot about him. Elaborate on whether you think that this story is saying that men can change, or rather that women shouldn’t put any trust in men.