In this work, “the boys and girls would venture to come and play at hide-and-seek in my hair”

On the December 25, 2025, episode of Jeopardy, contestants were challenged with a literary clue that required both a sharp memory and a firm grasp of 18th-century classics. The Final Jeopardy category was “18th-Century Lit”, and the clue painted a vivid, whimsical picture: “In this work, ‘the boys and girls would venture to come and play at hide-and-seek in my hair’.” This highly specific and unusual image comes from a well-known satirical narrative written by one of the great English authors of the period.

What is Gulliver’s Travels?

The correct response to this clue is What is Gulliver’s Travels?—the satirical novel penned by Jonathan Swift and first published in 1726. The passage in question is drawn from the second voyage in the novel, where Lemuel Gulliver finds himself in Brobdingnag, a land inhabited by giants. Because of his diminutive size in comparison to the inhabitants, Gulliver becomes an object of curiosity and amusement, particularly to children.

This detail about children playing hide-and-seek in Gulliver’s hair serves as a vivid example of Swift’s inventive imagination and his use of scale to explore power dynamics. In Brobdingnag, Gulliver is roughly six inches tall, and the world around him becomes threatening, yet oddly comical. The image of children treating his hair like a playground encapsulates both the humor and dehumanization Gulliver experiences during his time among the giants.

A Satirical Classic of 18th-Century Literature

Gulliver’s Travels is widely regarded as one of the most important works of 18th-century literature, combining elements of fantasy, satire, and political commentary. Written during a time of significant political upheaval in England and Ireland, the novel critiques various aspects of society, including politics, science, human nature, and colonialism. Swift uses Gulliver’s journeys to distant, fictional lands as allegories for contemporary issues.

The Brobdingnag episode, in particular, reverses the dynamic of the more famous voyage to Lilliput, where Gulliver is the giant among tiny people. This change in perspective allows Swift to further highlight the relativity of power and the absurdity of human pride. Gulliver, now small and powerless, experiences what it’s like to be at the mercy of beings who see him as little more than a toy.

The Role of the Brobdingnagians

In Brobdingnag, the people are portrayed as moral and somewhat simplistic in their values, but their overwhelming size gives them an unintentional cruelty. The children who play in Gulliver’s hair are not trying to harm him, but their actions show how easily the weak can be objectified or mistreated when seen as less than human. This scene, and others like it, subtly critiques how societies often treat those who are different or disadvantaged.

Gulliver’s observations and misadventures in Brobdingnag are also used to critique European attitudes. When he describes his own country to the king of Brobdingnag, the monarch is appalled, calling Europeans “the most pernicious race of little odious vermin.” This scathing judgment reflects Swift’s own disenchantment with British politics and society at the time.

Legacy and Literary Significance

Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels has remained a staple of English literature for nearly three centuries. Though often mistaken for a children’s story due to its imaginative settings and fantastical elements, the novel is, at its core, a biting satire intended for adults. Swift’s use of exaggeration, irony, and absurdity allows him to critique human behavior and institutions in a way that still resonates with readers today.

The clue featured in this Jeopardy episode exemplifies the kind of detail that makes Swift’s work both memorable and richly layered. It’s not just a peculiar image; it’s a commentary on scale, power, and perception. The enduring popularity of Gulliver’s Travels ensures that such moments remain familiar to readers and literary enthusiasts—and to trivia contestants willing to dive deep into the classics.