Write in a 3rd graderresponse

Question

Like all literary texts, both "The Walrus and the Carpenter" and "The Cop and the Anthem" are products of the time in which they were written:

• Lewis Carroll lived in England during the reign of Queen Victoria (from 1837 to 1901), a time of industrial and technological growth.
• O Henry wrote most of his works around the turn of the twentieth century while living in New York City-again, a time of great change and growth.

In an essay of 300 to 400 words, analyze the language of each text and share your thoughts about what it indicates about the historical and cultural surroundings of the author. Use specific quotations and evidence from the texts to support your analysis.

Answer 1

In the poems and stories we read, the way the authors use language helps us understand the time when they wrote them. Let’s look at "The Walrus and the Carpenter" by Lewis Carroll and "The Cop and the Anthem" by O. Henry. Both stories show us what was happening in the world around them when they were written.

Lewis Carroll wrote “The Walrus and the Carpenter” during a time called the Victorian Era in England. This was a time when people were very interested in new inventions and big changes. The language Carroll used is playful and full of silly words, like when he describes the walrus and the carpenter walking along the shore. He says, “The time has come,” the Walrus said, “to talk of many things,” which sounds very formal and kind of silly at the same time. This shows us that people were thinking a lot about serious subjects, but also trying to have fun. It also hints at the playful imagination that was important during that time.

On the other hand, O. Henry wrote "The Cop and the Anthem" in New York City around the early 1900s, which was also a time of big changes, especially with cities growing fast. The language he used is more realistic and straightforward. For example, O. Henry writes about a homeless man named Soapy who wants to get arrested just to stay warm in the winter. He uses descriptions that help us see the struggle of living on the streets, like when he talks about Soapy's dreams of a warm meal. The way he describes Soapy's situation shows us the challenges that many people faced during that time, especially as cities were becoming busier.

Both authors used their words to paint pictures of their worlds. Carroll’s fun and whimsical language reflects a time when people enjoyed stories that could take them to strange and wonderful places. O. Henry’s more serious and practical language shows the heart and struggles of everyday life in a busy city. By looking at how they wrote, we can understand more about the times they lived in and the people around them. Their stories are like time capsules that help us see history in a different way!