What literary device is predominantly used to convey Gulliver's experiences?

The predominant literary device used in "Gulliver's Travels" to convey Gulliver's experiences is allegory. The narrative serves as an allegorical critique of human nature, society, and politics. Swift uses Gulliver's encounters with various fictional societies to represent and satirize the failings and absurdities of contemporary 18th-century England and the broader human condition. Each land that Gulliver visits—such as Lilliput, Brobdingnag, and the Land of the Houyhnhnms—symbolizes different aspects of society, allowing Swift to explore themes like power dynamics, morality, and the folly of human pride.

In this way, the story operates on multiple levels, with the surface narrative providing entertainment while the underlying allegory prompts readers to reflect on serious social and political commentary. The other options, while present in varying degrees, do not capture the essence of the work's overarching purpose as effectively as allegory does. Metaphor might illustrate some concepts within the story, but it does not encompass the overall meaning conveyed through Gulliver's journey. Imagery enhances the descriptive quality of the text, and hyperbole emphasizes certain traits or narratives but does not embody the broader critique that allegory achieves.