The Crocodile's Toothache

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The main character is the crocodile. It visits the dentist with a terrible toothache and becomes the focus of the poem's comic action.

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The crocodile has a terrible ache in its tooth. This toothache begins the action and creates the situation for the comic events that follow.

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The crocodile opens its jaws so wide that the dentist climbs inside. This action creates the main comic situation and starts the role reversal between the two characters.

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The dentist is shown as insensitive, careless, and cruel. He laughs while the crocodile is in pain and treats the suffering as if it is fun.

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Role reversal means that the one who is usually in control becomes vulnerable. Here, the dentist is first powerful and active, but the crocodile finally gains control when its jaws snap shut.

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SNAP is an example of onomatopoeia. It imitates the sharp sound of the crocodile's jaws closing suddenly and makes the ending vivid and dramatic.

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It is irony because the dentist laughs when the crocodile is suffering and asking for help. The situation is unexpected and opposite to what should happen in proper care.

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Dark humour means a comic treatment of something painful or alarming. The poem makes the dentist's disappearance sound casual and funny, even though the situation is shocking.