What does Twain accomplish by dividing the two views of the river rather than alternating them beneath several headings?

Answer 1

The meaning of Mark Twain's Two Ways of Seeing a River is the idea that once you gain knowledge, and life experiences, one may have a different way of looking at something. In the beginning, When one is young, one tends to just see the beauty, but with education, one starts to analyze things and lose the love of it.

Answer 2

His argument is that knowledge and experience change the way you look at a river: first you see only its beauty and majesty, later - when you have started to regularly navigate the river you only look at the river as a source of information on currents, banks and other hazards, wind changes etcetera. So, he says, you lose and you gain - but in gaining all this technical knowledge you may lose the perspective of what is the essence.

Answer 3

By dividing the two views of the river, Twain emphasizes the stark contrast between the innocent perception of the river held by the young narrator and the more experienced understanding gained by the older narrator. This technique allows Twain to highlight the loss of innocence and the loss of wonder that comes with experience and maturity in a more impactful way, rather than simply alternating between the two perspectives.