“The Walrus and The Carpenter”

By Lewis Carroll
(from Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There, 1872)

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. "O Oysters, come and walk with us!"
The Walrus did beseech.
The moon was shining sulkily,
"A pleasant walk, a pleasant talk,
Because she thought the sun
Along the briny beach:
Had got no business to be there
We cannot do with more than four,
After the day was done--
To give a hand to each."
"It's very rude of him," she said,
"To come and spoil the fun!" The eldest Oyster looked at him,
But never a word he said:
The eldest Oyster winked his eye,
The sea was wet as wet could be,
And shook his heavy head--
The sands were dry as dry.
Meaning to say he did not choose
You could not see a cloud, because
To leave the oyster-bed.
No cloud was in the sky:
No birds were flying overhead-- But four young Oysters hurried up,
There were no birds to fly. All eager for the treat:
Their coats were brushed, their faces washed,
The Walrus and the Carpenter
Their shoes were clean and neat--
Were walking close at hand;
And this was odd, because, you know,
They wept like anything to see
They hadn't any feet.
Such quantities of sand:
"If this were only cleared away," Four other Oysters followed them,
They said, "it would be grand!" And yet another four;
And thick and fast they came at last,
"If seven maids with seven mops
And more, and more, and more--
Swept it for half a year.
All hopping through the frothy waves,
Do you suppose," the Walrus said,
And scrambling to the shore.
"That they could get it clear?"
"I doubt it," said the Carpenter,
And shed a bitter tear.
 "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 slice:
I wish you were not quite so deaf--
I've had to ask you twice!"

"It seems a shame," the Walrus said,

"To play them such a trick,
The Walrus and the Carpenter
After we've brought them out so far,
Walked on a mile or so,
And made them trot so quick!"
And then they rested on a rock
The Carpenter said nothing but
Conveniently low:
"The butter's spread too thick!"
And all the little Oysters stood
And waited in a row. "I weep for you," the Walrus said:
"I deeply sympathize."
"The time has come," the Walrus said,
With sobs and tears he sorted out
"To talk of many things:
Those of the largest size,
Of shoes--and ships--and sealing-wax--
Holding his pocket-handkerchief
Of cabbages--and kings--
Before his streaming eyes.
And why the sea is boiling hot--
And whether pigs have wings." "O Oysters," said the Carpenter,
"You've had a pleasant run!
"But wait a bit," the Oysters cried,
Shall we be trotting home again?'
"Before we have our chat;
But answer came there none--
For some of us are out of breath,
And this was scarcely odd, because
And all of us are fat!"
They'd eaten every one.
"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.
Geo-Story and digital resources available online.
National Geographic
http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/media/walrus-carpenter-natgeo/?ar_a=1
“The Walrus and The Carpenter” Literary Analysis Questions

1. The Walrus and the Carpenter" is a narrative poem, meaning it tells a story. What are the key events in the
narrative?

2. Alliteration is the literary device of using the same letter or sound at the beginning of closely connected
words. The first line of "The Walrus and the Carpenter" uses alliteration: "The sun was shining on the sea."
What other lines of the poem use alliteration?

3. Personification is the literary device of giving human characteristics to plants, animals, or objects.
(Personification sometimes called anthropomorphism.) Carroll uses personification in describing the Walrus:
He speaks, walks, and eats like a person. Besides the Walrus, what other examples of personification can you
find in "The Walrus and the Carpenter"?

4. A simile is a literary device that simply compares one thing to another, usually using the linking words "like" or
"as." "The Walrus and the Carpenter" has two famous, silly similes in one line. Can you spot them?

5. Rhyme is the repeating of a sound (or several sounds) in one or more words. Each of the 18 stanzas in "The
Walrus and the Carpenter" has its own set of three rhyming words. Identify the rhyming words in each stanza.
A poem's rhyme scheme is its pattern of rhyme. Each ending line of a rhyming poem is identified by a letter.
Rhyming words share the same letter.
For example: "Mary Had a Little Lamb" has a simple ABCB rhyme scheme.

Mary had a little lamb (A)

Its fleece was white as snow (B)
And everywhere that Mary went (C)
The lamb was sure to go (B)

Can you identify the rhyme scheme of "The Walrus and the Carpenter"?

6. There are several debates regarding the object of satire of this poem. Who or what do you think Carol is
satirizing in this poem?