My Papa's Waltz Literary Devices

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While the subject of “My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke has spurred passionate academic debate from professors, scholars, and students alike, the imagery, and diction of the poem clearly support the interpretation that Roethke writes “My Papa’s Waltz” to delineate a fond memory he had with his intoxicated abusive father. The poem may be interpreted in different points of views which can lead the reader either with an abusive memory or a delightful memory. The poem has spurred some controversy based on the fact that people view it as child abuse when the child could get “dizzy” as smelling the fathers “whiskey” breath. As you grow in life and start to realizing how our childhood experiences will make impressions on us as adults. When Roethke wrote “My Papa’s Waltz” it shows a persona of an adult, mature thoughts and feelings are displayed rather than childish ones. Roethke grew aware that he was abused as a child, but did not clearly state that and left the reader with an unclear mind . Many lines indicate that he loved his father and tried to be with him …show more content…

Helping the reader visualize what was occurring in one of his memories. When he smelled the “whiskey” on his father's breath it made him feel “dizzy” which makes known how intoxicated the father was to make his son feel dizzy by just smelling his father's “breath.” When they were waltzing some “pans” were sliding of the kitchen shelf shows how unbalanced and inebriated he was as they were “waltzing.” As well as, when the child “hung” onto his father like “death” could infer that he was afraid of losing his father and wanted to spend more time with him. Indeed, the poem has created many obscure points of views that could be interpreted either as a fond memory of him with his father or a abusive

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