Question

analyze and evaluate
evaluate this poem and write a paragraph that discusses these questions.

• what type of figurative language is being used? justify your answer.
• what is the overall effect of the figurative language?
• why do you think the author chose that type of figurative language?
• would another type of figurative language have been as effective? why or why not?

from the walrus and the carpenter
by lewis carroll
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.

Explanation:

The poem uses personification: the sun is given human traits like having "his might" and trying "his very best" to smooth the sea. This creates a playful, whimsical tone that fits Lewis Carroll's nonsense style, making the absurd scenario of the sun shining at night feel vivid and childlike. Carroll likely chose personification to lean into the poem's silly, dreamlike logic, as it turns a celestial body into a relatable, bumbling character. Another device like metaphor would not work as well, because it would lack the playful, anthropomorphic charm that makes the absurdity of the sun shining at night feel engaging rather than confusing—personification gives the scene a humorous, active energy that draws readers into the nonsense world.

Answer:

The figurative language used is personification: the sun is given human qualities (having "his might," doing "his very best"). This creates a whimsical, playful tone that amplifies the poem's absurd, nonsense core, making the impossible scenario of daytime sun at night feel vivid and lighthearted. Carroll chose personification to lean into the poem's silly, dreamlike logic, turning a distant celestial body into a relatable, bumbling character that drives the absurd scene forward. Another type of figurative language, such as a metaphor, would not be as effective: it would fail to capture the playful, active charm of the anthropomorphized sun, which is key to making the poem's nonsense feel engaging rather than confusing.