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
The poet manages to utilize a rhyming pattern to set the tone for the poem. In the first stanza, the rhyming of words like “falls” and “balls” and sets rather youthful and almost childlike tone for the poem. In the second stanza,
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.
"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.
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.
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
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.
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
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/
Theodore Roethke’s, “My Papa’s Waltz,” uses a great deal of imagery by using the metaphor of the word “Waltz.” A Waltz is a dance that has a step to every beat of the music, while in close proximities to the other dancer, there is not much change and it is in fact quite repetitive. Already we begin to form an image Roethke is trying to provide us by saying “My Papa’s Waltz.” His usage of the word “Papa” is quite informal compared to the word, “father.” It is only upon reading and analyzing the rest of the poem that we realize the struggle tied to the word.
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.
In the poem, “My Papa’s Waltz”, Theodore Roethke illustrates the complex relationship between a little boy and his father by juxtaposing images of love and violence through word choices that portray feelings of fear yet affection for his father. Roethke’s shifting tone encompasses distress and a sense admiration that suggests the complexities of violence both physically and emotionally for the undercurrents of his father and son relationship. The poem begins with a series of negative images, each of which are considered violent and undesirable in a family. For example, “The whiskey on your breath” suggests alcoholism, and “Could make a small boy dizzy” emphasizes that a boy is suffering from the effects of the alcoholic parent.
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
