Language in "The Walrus and the Carpenter" and "The Cop and the Anthem"
Both "The Walrus and the Carpenter" by Lewis Carroll and "The Cop and the Anthem" by O. Henry show us a lot about the times they were written in. These stories have different styles and feelings that reflect what was happening in the world back then.
Lewis Carroll wrote "The Walrus and the Carpenter" in England during the reign of Queen Victoria. This was a time when everything was changing. Industrial growth meant cities were getting bigger, and people were working in factories. In the poem, Carroll uses fun and silly words, like when the Walrus says, “The time has come, the time has come,” and it feels playful. This shows that while life was getting busy, there was still room for imagination and creativity. Carroll’s use of talking animals makes the story feel whimsical and light-hearted, showing how people were starting to enjoy new kinds of storytelling that were not always serious.
On the other hand, O. Henry wrote "The Cop and the Anthem" in New York City around the turn of the twentieth century. This was also a time of big changes, especially because many people were moving to cities in search of jobs. The story is about a man named Soapy who wants to find a way to get arrested just to stay warm during the winter. O. Henry uses descriptions like “the warm lights of Broadway” to show us the bright, bustling city life and also the struggles of those who are not as fortunate. His language is straightforward and sometimes has a twist, which keeps the reader interested. It shows the tough reality of life for some people during a period when society was growing but still had problems.
In both stories, the authors use their special styles of writing to show us what their worlds were like. Carroll’s playful rhymes and O. Henry’s clever twists help us understand the time they lived in. These authors remind us that stories can be fun and serious at the same time. Reading their works helps us see how the past influences the stories we enjoy today.