J. T. Holden Synthesis

J.T. Holden’s Source Material J.T. Holden’s narrative poem “The Walrus and the Carpenter Head Back” is nothing more than a sequel to Lewis Carroll’s Narrative poem “The Walrus and the Carpenter”. What makes a sequel as good as the first? The answer is similar structural elements. Holden made sure to include in his poem very similar elements that could be found in Carroll’s poem as well to insure that he stayed true to his source of information. These elements include word choice, themes and setting, and characters. First of all, the elements are so similar from these two poems that if the reader did not know any better, that person might say the same author constructed each poem. A very easily seen element would be the word choice in the two poems. Throughout each poem, the reader may pick up on words that are used in thein them. It might not be the exact same word; however, Holden may use the same wordings as Carroll does. One example that may have stood out to the reader would be the adjectives used to describe the setting. In stanza six line four of Carroll’s poem, he wrote “Along the briny beach”. The beach was similarly described in stanza six line four of Holden’s poem. He wrote “Along this briny shore” (the two lines are coincidently

Watkins 2 found in the same stanza and line of each

A great sequel always has reoccurring characters and Holden’s poem does. The Oysters, the walrus, the carpenter, and of course the elder oyster all reappear in “The Walrus and Carpenter Head Back”. The only difference that the two poems have when it comes to characters is that the characters act a little bit different. The head oyster is no longer passive, but he is a leader ready to seek revenge for his fallen oyster pals. In stanza 12 lines one (“‘A coil of thread,’ the eldest said,”), five (“Some kindling to, and flint as well,”), and six (To build a warming fire.’”), the eldest oyster takes charge in telling the other oysters how