Write in a 4th grader’s response

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:
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• 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.
Organize your essay clearly, and follow the rules of English grammar and punctuation.

Answer 1

Exploring the Times 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 what life was like during the times they were written. They use different styles of language that help us understand what was happening in their worlds.

Lewis Carroll wrote "The Walrus and the Carpenter" during Queen Victoria's reign in England, a time when things like factories and new inventions were changing life for many people. In this poem, Carroll uses playful and whimsical language, like when he writes, "The time has come, the walrus said, to talk of many things." This suggests a light-hearted approach which can be seen as a reflection of the curiosity and creativity of that era. People were excited about new ideas, and the fantastical creatures in the poem show how imagination was important to everyone, especially children.

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 a period of big changes, especially with people moving to cities for jobs. O. Henry’s language is more serious and straightforward. He describes the main character, Soapy, as "a man who had been out of work." This shows us the struggles that many people faced during that time. Soapy’s attempts to get arrested to find a warm place to sleep highlight how desperate some people were. The simple yet strong sentences make us feel his sadness and reflect the tough reality of city life back then.

Both authors used language to show what was happening in their times. Carroll’s playful style makes us think of a magical world, while O. Henry’s straightforward language reveals the struggles of real life. These texts help us understand the differences between England during Queen Victoria’s rule and New York City in the early twentieth century.

Through the characters and the settings in their stories, we see how life was changing around them and how their perspectives were shaped by history. These literary works are not just stories; they are windows into the past that help us learn about the people who lived during those times.