In “My Papa’s Waltz,” poet Theodore Roethke uses sensory details and ambiguous language to persuade both the boy and the reader that the boy still loves his father, despite him being an alcoholic. On the third sentence of the first stanza, Roethke uses ambiguous language by stating: “But I hung on like death. Such waltzing was not easy.” Although this plainly means that the boy was holding onto his father without ease, it can be interpreted in another way; the boy still loves his father, even though it is hard to love him with his alcoholism at times, and the boy still loves his father very much. The boy is reflecting on this idea while waltzing with his
In his poem “My Papa’s Waltz”, poet Theodore Roethke utilizes disturbing imagery and a gloomy tone to illustrate the idea that a person out of control can cause more damage to people surrounding them than themselves. The poem describes a young child who is forced to do the popular dance, The Waltz, by their father. The drunk father beats his son every time the child makes a mistake during the dance. During these events, the mother of the minor stands by helplessly.
Roethke’s My Papas Waltz Many literary scholars, researchers and readers in general, driven by intrigue, have tried to dissect, analyze, and interpret the ambiguous meaning of Theodore Roethke’s poem, “My Papa’s Waltz.” Their explications however, result in ambivalent, and sometimes controversial views. Some critics argue that “My Papas Waltz,” portrays the physical violence inflicted by a father to his child.
The poem My Papa’s Waltz by Theodore Roethke, came from a collection of poems titled The Lost Son. All of these poems portray Roethke as a child torn between admiration of his father and disgust for his father’s actions. This particular poem reflects on the struggles Roethke endured in his childhood. When reading My Papa’s Waltz, the reader sees the father’s behavior through Roethke’s childhood memory. Rhyme, rhythm, irony, paradox and word choice are all effects that Roethke uses to convey his feelings towards his father.
"Papa's Waltz" is a poem written in 1948 by the award-winning poet, Theodore Roethke. This poem tells the story of a father and son's physical bond, which is often interpreted as a metaphor for the emotional connection between the two. The poem begins with a description of the father and son dancing together. The father's "thick palms" and "battered knuckles" show his hardworking nature, while the "right hand" with which he holds his son reflects the nurturing and protective embrace of a parent. The waltz also serves as a metaphor for the father's love, with the "palm's on [the son's] neck" conveying a sense of security and comfort.
Regardless of this, the poem is famous for its unique rhythm and meter of poem. The poem flows very smoothly but does not have a specific poetic foot. Consonances were used to help the rhyme scheme sound more pleasing to readers. The poets diction was exclusive and out of the ordinary.
In Roethke’s “My Papa’s Waltz”, the speaker seems to be an adult reminiscing his childhood through a metaphor of a dance. The poem suggests that the boy was abused and the mother stood by without doing much about it. Three topics that
The relationship between father and son is one that is both sacred, yet complex as each side of the relationship faces hardships. This relationship between a son and his role model, a father and his child, is one, has its ups, but one must also know it has downs. In Theodore Roethke’s “My Papa’s Waltz,” Roethke’s use of ambiguity through diction allows room for the audience to interpret the text in a positive or a negative way, representing the relationship between a father and a son, which on the outside can be interpreted in an either positive or a negative way. Roethke’s use of diction creates an element of confusion for the audience of his poem.
I liked this poem because it was a little easier to analyze and interpret. Through the use of negative connotation within the poem “My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke creates a more complex tone in which feelings of discomfort, tension and affection are both present. The author uses imagery and figurative language to paint a picture of a father and his son dancing around the kitchen. Roethke uses words like “dizzy,” “battered,” and “scraped” to describe the physical state that the speaker is in when they interact with their father, and that might be suggestive of violence between a father and his child, which might make one uncomfortable, or uneasy. T It also talks about being able to smell the whiskey on his breath.
Throughout “My Papa’s Waltz” and “Those Winter Sundays”, the author’s reflect on how their fathers were hard workers, although each memory is emotionally different. In “My Papa’s Waltz”, Roethke remembers his father coming home from work and his hands “Was battered on one knuckle” (Line 10). Even though the father had a long day at work, the boy recounts him coming home and dancing with him. Whereas “Those Winter Sundays”, Hayden recalls his fathers hard work by describing his “Cracked hands that ached/
In “My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke, the author uses rhyming couplets and imagery to demonstrate that unconditional love is the effort you put in for someone no matter the circumstances. Roethke displayed this idea by utilizing imagery to illustrate the working life of the father in the line, “With a palm caked hard by dirt / Then waltzed me off to bed” (Roethke), this line articulates how the father works hard for the family during the day; so much to the point of his hands bwing caked with dirt with dirt, but still comes home and shows up for his son by dancing with him, and still putting in effort even after his tireless workday. Furthermore, Roethke’s poem also displays topics of relationships and family throughout the poem; these
In the poem, My Papa’s Waltz, the speaker, Theodore Roethke, writes about a father and son waltzing. Further investigation suggests there is more going on than a waltz. The poet utilizes figure of speech and a negative toned vocabulary throughout the poem. Thus, alleviating the reader of the harsh truth of an abusive relationship whilst never dehumanizing the father.
The rhyming scheme is very evident as fluentuates throughout the poem with lines such as, Hypnotized by you if I should linger. Staring at the ring around your finger. Along with it’s rhyming schemes there’s a bit of alliteration tied up as well, Devil and the
As an adult, growing up in that household, it is hard to find peace with their parents' drunk actions. It shows the consequences of alcohalism in a family with problems. In Roethke’s poem “My Papa’s Waltz,” he is talking about his childhood struggles with his alcoholic, abusive father. The dynamic of the father and son was
This poem does not have a rhyme scheme because it does not have to, but it still expresses the emotion it is trying to convey. Imagery plays a big role in this art form and it is used quite a bit. In the poem it says, “...luscious sweet, ...sooty earth, and ...warm wings,” these are all forms of imagery. Similes come in along the way when it says, “...the white truck like an ambulance, ... Cinderella fit into the shoe like a love letter into its envelope, ...
