Welcome, dear readers, to an exciting journey into the whimsical yet thought-provoking world of Lewis Carroll! Today, we delve into one of his most memorable narrative poems, a tale that has captivated imaginations for generations. Prepare to meet two unforgettable characters and the unfortunate souls who cross their path. Let us begin by immersing ourselves in the poem itself.
The Walrus and the Carpenter
by Lewis Carroll
“The sea was wet as wet could be,
The sand was dry as dry.
You could not see a cloud, because
No cloud was in the sky.
No birds were flying overhead,
There were no birds to fly.”“The Walrus and the Carpenter,
Were walking close at hand,
They wept like anything to see
Such quantities of sand.
“If this were only cleared away,”
They said, it would be grand!”“If seven maids with seven mops
Swept it for half a year,
Do you suppose,’ the Walrus said,
‘That they could get it clear?’
‘I doubt it,’ said the Carpenter,
And shed a bitter tear.”“O Oysters, come and walk with us! The Walrus did beseech.
Along the briny beach:
“We cannot do with more than four,
To give a hand to each.”The eldest Oyster looked at him,
But never a word he said.
The eldest Oyster winked his eye,
And shook his heavy head,
Meaning to say he did not choose
To leave the oyster‑bed.”“But four young Oysters hurried up,
All eager for the treat:
Their coats were brushed, their faces washed,
Their shoes were clean and neat,
And this was odd, because, you know,
They hadn’t any feet.”Four other Oysters followed them,
And yet another four;
They came thick and fast at last,
And more, and more, and more.
All hopping through the frothy waves,
And scrambling to the shore.”“The Walrus and the Carpenter,
Walked on a mile or so,
And rested on a rock, conveniently low,
All the little Oysters stood and waited in a row.”“The time has come, the Walrus said,
To talk of many things:
Of shoes, and ships, and sealing‑wax,
Of cabbages, and kings,
And why the sea is boiling hot,
And whether pigs have wings.”“A loaf of bread,” the Walrus said,
“Is what we chiefly need:
Pepper and vinegar besides,
Are very good indeed,
Now if you’re ready, Oysters dear,
We can begin to feed.”“But not on us!” the Oysters cried,
“Turning a little blue.
The night is fine, the Walrus said.
Do you admire the view?”“I weep for you,” the Walrus said:
I deeply sympathize.
With sobs and tears he sorted out
Those of the largest size,
Holding his pocket‑handkerchief
Before his streaming eyes.”“O Oysters,” said the Carpenter,
You’ve had a pleasant run!
Shall we be trotting home again?
But answer came there none,”“And they’d eaten everyone.”
Unpacking “The Walrus and the Carpenter”: A Summary and Core Ideas
“The Walrus and the Carpenter,” a captivating narrative poem by Lewis Carroll, first appeared in his beloved novel Through the Looking-Glass in 1871. This seemingly whimsical tale, often enjoyed for its playful language and memorable characters, carries a profound message about deception, vulnerability, and the dangers of misplaced trust. It remains one of Carroll’s most enduring and frequently quoted works, celebrated for its unique blend of nonsense verse and subtle, darker undertones.
The poem opens with a vivid, almost surreal description of a beach scene, where the sea is “wet as wet could be” and the sand “dry as dry.” Into this peculiar setting step the Walrus and the Carpenter, who express exaggerated sorrow over the vast quantities of sand. Feigning a desire to clear the beach, they then extend an invitation to a group of Oysters for a walk. An older, wiser Oyster wisely declines, sensing danger, but a throng of eager, naive young Oysters, dressed in their finest, readily accept the invitation.
As the Walrus and the Carpenter lead the Oysters on a lengthy stroll, the Walrus engages them in a rambling, nonsensical conversation about “shoes, and ships, and sealing-wax, of cabbages, and kings.” This distraction serves to lull the Oysters into a false sense of security, diverting their attention from the true, sinister purpose of the walk. The poem builds to a chilling climax when the Walrus announces it is time to “begin to feed,” revealing their predatory intentions. Despite the Oysters’ desperate pleas, the Walrus sheds crocodile tears of “sympathy” while selecting the largest Oysters, and the Carpenter, with a callous remark about their “pleasant run,” confirms their grim fate. The poem concludes with the stark, unsettling line: “And they’d eaten everyone.”
The central idea of “The Walrus and the Carpenter” revolves around the theme of deception and the exploitation of innocence. The Walrus and the Carpenter represent manipulative figures who use flattery, feigned concern, and distraction to lure the vulnerable Oysters to their doom. The Oysters, particularly the young ones, symbolize innocence and naiveté, highlighting the peril of blindly following authority or trusting those who offer seemingly kind gestures without question. The poem serves as a cautionary tale, subtly critiquing the dangers of gullibility and the predatory nature that can lurk beneath a veneer of politeness.
A Deep Dive into the Literary Craft of “The Walrus and the Carpenter”
Lewis Carroll masterfully employs a variety of literary devices to create the poem’s unique atmosphere and convey its underlying messages. Understanding these techniques enriches the reading experience and reveals the depth of Carroll’s artistry.
Personification: Giving Life to the Inanimate
Personification is the attribution of human characteristics or behavior to animals or inanimate objects. Carroll uses this device to bring his characters and even abstract concepts to life, making the narrative more engaging and often humorous, despite the dark subject matter.
- The Walrus and the Carpenter are animals who “wept like anything” and “shed a bitter tear” over the sand, displaying human emotions of sorrow and frustration. This humanization makes their subsequent actions even more unsettling.
- The Oysters are also personified, with the eldest “wink[ing] his eye, And shook his heavy head,” demonstrating human-like wisdom and decision-making. The young Oysters “hurried up, All eager for the treat,” and even have “coats… brushed, their faces washed, Their shoes… clean and neat,” despite lacking feet. This detail adds to the poem’s whimsical absurdity while underscoring their human-like eagerness and vulnerability.
Alliteration: The Play of Sounds
Alliteration is the repetition of initial consonant sounds in words that are close together. This device adds a musical quality to the verse, making it more memorable and often emphasizing certain phrases or ideas.
- The opening lines feature a striking example: “The sea was wet as wet could be, / The sand was dry as dry.” The repetition of the ‘s’ sound creates a soft, almost whispering effect, drawing the reader into the scene.
- Another instance appears when the Walrus begins his distracting monologue: “Of shoes, and ships, and sealing‑wax.” The repeated ‘s’ sound here creates a sense of rapid, flowing speech, mirroring the Walrus’s attempt to overwhelm the Oysters with words.
- The phrase “briny beach” also uses alliteration, making the description of the Oysters’ habitat more vivid and rhythmic.
Consonance: Echoes of Sound
Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds within words or at the end of words in close proximity. It creates a subtle sense of rhythm and connection, often reinforcing the mood or meaning.
- In the line, “And shed a bitter tear,” the repeated ‘t’ sound, along with the ‘sh’ and ‘b’ sounds, contributes to the feeling of sorrow and the Carpenter’s feigned distress.
- The description of the Oysters arriving “thick and fast at last” uses the repetition of ‘t’ and ‘s’ sounds to convey their rapid, eager approach.
- The Walrus’s declaration, “To talk of many things,” uses the ‘t’ sound to emphasize the breadth of his proposed conversation, which is ultimately a diversion.
Enjambment: Flowing Thoughts
Enjambment occurs when a sentence or phrase continues from one line of poetry to the next without a pause or punctuation mark. This technique creates a sense of continuous flow, maintaining narrative momentum and often building tension or surprise.
- Consider the lines: “The Walrus and the Carpenter,
Were walking close at hand,” Here, the thought of their proximity extends across the line break, drawing the reader smoothly from the characters’ introduction to their action. - Similarly, “The Walrus and the Carpenter,
Walked on a mile or so,” demonstrates enjambment, emphasizing the duration of their journey and the Oysters’ prolonged exposure to danger.
Imagery: Painting Pictures with Words
Imagery involves the use of descriptive language that appeals to the five senses, creating vivid mental pictures for the reader. Carroll’s poem is rich with imagery, making its fantastical world feel tangible.
- Visual imagery is prominent from the start: “The sea was wet as wet could be, / The sand was dry as dry.” This stark contrast immediately establishes a memorable, almost surreal setting.
- The description of the Oysters “hopping through the frothy waves, / And scrambling to the shore” creates a dynamic and lively image of their eager arrival.
- The Walrus’s feigned sorrow is made palpable through visual imagery: “Holding his pocket‑handkerchief / Before his streaming eyes,” painting a clear picture of his theatrical display of grief.
Irony: The Twist of Expectation
Irony is a literary device where there is a contrast between what is said and what is actually meant, or between what is expected to happen and what actually occurs. Carroll uses irony to underscore the Walrus and Carpenter’s deceit and the Oysters’ tragic fate.
- The Walrus’s declaration, “I weep for you: I deeply sympathize,” while he is simultaneously “sort[ing] out Those of the largest size” for consumption, is a powerful example of dramatic irony. The reader understands the Walrus’s true intentions, while the Oysters are still caught in his web of deceit.
- The Carpenter’s final, chilling remark, “O Oysters, you’ve had a pleasant run! Shall we be trotting home again?” is deeply ironic. The “pleasant run” was, in fact, a march to their demise, and there will be no “trotting home again” for them. This statement highlights the callousness of the predators.
Symbolism: Deeper Meanings
Symbolism is the use of objects, people, or ideas to represent something else. In this poem, the characters themselves carry symbolic weight.
- The Walrus and the Carpenter symbolize manipulative authority figures or predators who exploit the innocent. The Walrus, with his eloquent but deceptive speech, represents those who use rhetoric and false sympathy, while the Carpenter, more direct and less verbose, represents the practical, enabling aspect of exploitation.
- The Oysters symbolize innocence, naiveté, and vulnerability. The eldest Oyster, who “did not choose To leave the oyster‑bed,” represents wisdom and caution, while the young Oysters, “eager for the treat,” symbolize the easily swayed and trusting, who fall victim to flattery and false promises.
Repetition: Emphasizing the Unavoidable
Repetition is the recurrence of words, phrases, or ideas for emphasis or to create a particular effect. Carroll uses repetition to build a sense of inevitability and to highlight the overwhelming nature of the Oysters’ fate.
- The lines describing the arrival of more Oysters: “And yet another four; They came thick and fast at last, And more, and more, and more.” The repetition of “more” emphasizes the sheer number of Oysters being lured, making their collective doom feel even more tragic and inescapable.
Exploring the Poetic Structure and Devices
Beyond its literary depth, “The Walrus and the Carpenter” is a masterclass in poetic structure, employing specific devices that contribute to its memorable rhythm and narrative flow.
Stanza and Sestet: The Building Blocks of the Poem
A stanza is a group of lines forming a unit within a poem, similar to paragraphs in prose. In “The Walrus and the Carpenter,” each stanza consists of six lines, making it a sestet. This consistent structure provides a predictable and comforting framework for the unfolding narrative, which ironically contrasts with the unsettling events of the story.
Rhyme Scheme: A Musical Pattern
The rhyme scheme is the pattern of rhymes at the end of each line of a poem. “The Walrus and the Carpenter” consistently follows an ABCBDB rhyme scheme. This means that the second, fourth, and sixth lines of each stanza rhyme, while the first, third, and fifth lines do not necessarily rhyme with each other or with the rhyming lines.
- Let us look at the first stanza:
“The sea was wet as wet could be, (A)
The sand was dry as dry. (B)
You could not see a cloud, because (C)
No cloud was in the sky. (B)
No birds were flying overhead, (D)
There were no birds to fly.” (B)Here, “dry,” “sky,” and “fly” create the consistent B rhyme, giving the poem a light, sing-song quality that makes it appealing to read aloud and easy to remember. This musicality often masks the darker themes, making the poem’s impact even more surprising.
End Rhyme: The Harmony of Lines
End rhyme refers to rhymes that occur at the end of lines in a poem. The frequent and consistent use of end rhyme in “The Walrus and the Carpenter” is a key element of its charm and readability.
- Examples abound throughout the poem:
- “hand” and “grand” in the second stanza.
- “year” and “tear” in the third stanza.
- “beseech” and “beach” in the fourth stanza.
- “treat,” “neat,” and “feet” in the sixth stanza.
- “four,” “more,” and “shore” in the seventh stanza.
- “things,” “kings,” and “wings” in the ninth stanza.
- “need,” “indeed,” and “feed” in the tenth stanza.
- “blue” and “view” in the eleventh stanza.
- “sympathize,” “size,” and “eyes” in the twelfth stanza.
- “run” and “none” in the thirteenth stanza, followed by “everyone” in the final line.
This consistent use of end rhyme creates a strong sense of rhythm and predictability, drawing readers through the narrative with a pleasant, almost hypnotic flow.
Rhythm and Meter: The Pulse of the Poem
While not strictly adhering to a single, complex meter, the poem generally maintains a light, tripping rhythm, often characteristic of nonsense verse. This consistent beat contributes to the poem’s engaging quality, making it feel like a nursery rhyme or a playful song. This rhythmic consistency, combined with the regular rhyme scheme, makes the poem highly memorable and contributes to its enduring popularity, even as it delivers a profound cautionary message.
The Enduring Legacy of “The Walrus and the Carpenter”
“The Walrus and the Carpenter” stands as a testament to Lewis Carroll’s genius, blending whimsical absurdity with a sharp, insightful commentary on human nature. Its memorable characters, vivid imagery, and clever use of literary and poetic devices make it a rich text for exploration. From its deceptively simple narrative to its profound themes of manipulation and vulnerability, the poem continues to resonate with readers, prompting reflection on the dangers of blind trust and the importance of critical thinking. It remains a beloved and essential piece of literature, offering both delight and a valuable lesson for all who encounter its captivating lines.