Ballad Poem- The Walrus and the Carpenter

by: Lewis Carroll

Albert Chew Chi Ko Catherine Chia Yean Fah Fatin Amira bt Ahmad Nicholas Anderson Lim Beng Kwong

About Lewis Carroll

Name: Charles Lutwidge Dogson Pen name: Lewis Carroll Was born on January 27, 1832 in Daresbury, Cheshire, England. The eldest boy in a family of 11 children The most famous and successful book: Alices Adventure in Wonderland Was dead on January 14, 1898

What is Ballad Poem?

Ballad poems are poems that tell a story similar to a folk tale or legend and often has a repeated refrain. A ballad is often about love or sentimental nature and often sung. A form of narrative poem

The Poem
The sun was shining on the sea, Shining with all his might: He did his very best to make The billows smooth and bright -And this was odd, because it was The middle of the night. The moon was shining sulkily, Because she thought the sun Had got no business to be there After the day was done -'It's very rude of him.' she said, 'To come and spoil the fun!' The sea was wet as wet could be, The sands were 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?' 'l doubt it,' said the Carpenter, And shed a bitter tear. 'O Oysters, come and walk with us! The Walrus did beseech. 'A pleasant walk, a pleasant talk, 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.

Out 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; And thick and fast they came 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 then they rested on a rock Conveniently low: And 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.' 'But wait a bit,' the Oysters cried, 'Before we have our chat; For some of us are out of breath, And all of us are fat!' 'No hurry!' said the Carpenter. They thanked him much for that. '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. 'After such kindness, that would be A dismal thing to do!' 'The night is fine,' the Walrus said, 'Do you admire the view?' 'It was so kind of you to come! And you are very nice!' The Carpenter said nothing but 'Cut us another sliceI wish you were not quite so deafI've had to ask you twice!' 'It seems a shame,' the Walrus said, 'To play them such a trick. After we've brought them out so far, And made them trot so quick!' The Carpenter said nothing but 'The butter's spread too thick!'

I weep for you,'the Walrus said: 'I deeply sympathize.' With sobs and tears he sorted out Those of the largest size, Holding his pockethandkerchief 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 this was scarcely odd, because They'd eaten every one.

Summary of the Poem

The sun is shining over the sea, even though it is night time. This makes the moon angry. The walrus and the carpenter are walking along the beach. They invite oysters to join them on their walk. The oldest oyster says no to their offer, but 4 young oysters agree. And then many more young oysters come out of the sea and line up on a rock. The walrus tells the oysters that he is going to have a chat with them. It then becomes clear to the oysters that they are going to be eaten so they beg for mercy. The walrus talks a little more and seems to sympathize with the oysters. However, in the end, all the oysters are eaten by the walrus and the carpenter.

1. The walrus and the carpenter took a walk at the beach. 2. They, then invited the oysters to join them for the walk. 3. They ate all the oysters up.

Themes
Deceit/ Dishonesty
The walrus and the carpenter were not honest as they deceived the oysters by taking them to a walk. In the end, they ate all the oysters.
'O Oysters, come and walk with us! The Walrus did beseech. 'A pleasant walk, a pleasant talk, Along the briny beach: We cannot do with more than four, To give a hand to each.

The excerpt above shows that the walrus was being pretentious and he tried to deceive the oysters to bring their friends along too.

The walrus and the carpenter successfully deceived them by telling the oysters to stay relaxed.
Now, if you're ready, Oysters dear, We can begin to feed.

The excerpt above shows that they pretended to treat all the oysters like their friends. But in the end, they ate up all the oysters.
But answer came there none -And this was scarcely odd, because They'd eaten every one.

 Disobedient When the walrus and the carpenter invited the oysters for a walk, the eldest oyster rejected their invitation and also warned the younger ones not to follow them.
The eldest Oyster winked his eye, And shook his heavy head

However, the young oysters refused to listen and they followed the walrus and the carpenter. As a consequence, the oysters were all eaten up by them.

Literary Devices
Anthropomorphism
The characteristics of human attribute, personality or actions are given to animals. Lewis used anthropomorphism to describe the actions and personalities of the walrus and the oysters. The walrus is given the characteristics such as cheerful, deceitful and pretentious while the oysters are given the characteristics like nave and lack of awareness. The contrast between the two characters allows Lewis to show us that nave people will always be cheated by pretentious people. Also, through this literary device, Lewis was able to show us that we should not judge people by their appearances and sweet words.

 The cheerful and also the deceitful sides of the walrus:

'O Oysters, come and walk with us! The Walrus did beseech. 'A pleasant walk, a pleasant talk, Along the briny beach: We cannot do with more than four, To give a hand to each.

The nave side of the oysters:

Out four young Oysters hurried up. All eager for the treat:

 Personification
Objects are given the qualities of human beings. Lewis used personification in the second stanza:
The moon was shining sulkily, Because she thought the sun Had got no business to be there

Personification is used in the second stanza to show the emotions that the moon had. Lewis used personification in the second stanza to attract the attention of the reader especially in showing that the moon actually was very sulky and the moon hated the sun for coming out at night.

 Foreshadowing
The presentation of details, characters, or incidents of events that are going to happen in the future Lewis used foreshadowing to create a suspense to the reader and also this literary device helps the reader to figure out the fate of the oysters : whether they will end up in the stomachs of the walrus and the carpenter.

I weep for you, the Walrus said: 'I deeply sympathize.' With sobs and tears he sorted out

From here, the reader will start to guess why did the walrus weep and who did he weep for. Also, the reader will know that something bad or sad must have happened.
'O Oysters,' said the Carpenter, 'You've had a pleasant run! Shall we be trotting home again?' But answer came there none --

From the excerpt above, the reader will know the end of the oysters fate.

Sources
http://www.biography.com/people/lewiscarroll-9239598 http://www.eliteskills.com/analysis_poetry/W alrus_and_the_Carpenter_The_by_Lewis_Carr oll_analysis.php http://www.shvoong.com/books/poetry/2153 378-summary-lewis-carroll-walrus-carpenter/