In the late nineteen forties, Theodore Roethke emerged with a poem that has been the source of much debate. "My Papa's Waltz," is an account of a relationship between son and father. Alas, many readers who are exposed to this piece fail to note the love present in the connection of the characters. In an attempt to illuminate the author's true intention several factors must be examined. After several examinations of Roethke's poem as well as learning of his childhood it is evident that this poem does not suggest an abusive environment, but is an appreciative account of the love and playfulness between the characters. Therefore, a successful interpretation of this poem will look beyond the four stanzas and study not only the history of the writing, but the life of the poet.
Theodore Roethke's history is significant to the tone and subject matter of his poetry. A poet of the Midwest, he combines a love of the land with his vision of the development of the individual. Roethke is often described as a confessional poet because of his use of modernist techniques to explore his psychology and life (Dunn). Many of his most successful poems are lyrical memories of his childhood. "My Papa's Waltz," is one such account. Theodore's father owned and operated greenhouses, and Theodore spent a great deal of time there in his youth. Many of his memories of these times became the subject of his writings. However, the poet's adolescent years were jarred by the death of his father from cancer in 1923, a loss that would powerfully shape Roethke's psychic and creative life. (Kalaidjian)
Roethke's "My Papa's Waltz" is about a relationship between a father and his son. Beginning with the title, the author's meticulous choice of voca...
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... Unfortunately, many readers fail to look deeper into the poem.
Regardless of the interpretation one possesses, may it be seen as abusive or loving, it is clear that the poem is more "richly ambiguous" than onlookers might have felt in the first reading (McKenna). After analysis of the poem, Bobby Fong compares it to that of a seesaw in saying, "the elements of joy, are balanced against the elements of fear." Although the certainty of tone may never be known, a further look at aspects that contributes to the writing give viewers' good insight in the mind of Theodore Roethke. Readers frequently hold contradictory interpretations of "My Papa's Waltz," depending on what personal experience they filter the reading through. In the end, critics agree that there is a darkness to the poem that is definite, but equally so, an abundance of love that is undeniable.
In a restaurant, picture a young boy enjoying breakfast with his mother. Then suddenly, the child’s gesture expresses how his life was good until “a man started changing it all” (285). This passage reflects how writer, Dagoberto Gilb, in his short story, “Uncle Rock,” sets a tone of displeasure in Erick’s character as he writes a story about the emotions of a child while experiencing his mother’s attempt to find a suitable husband who can provide for her, and who can become a father to him. Erick’s quiet demeanor serves to emphasis how children may express their feelings of disapproval. By communicating through his silence or gestures, Erick shows his disapproval towards the men in a relationship with his mother as he experiences them.
The events of our childhood and interactions with our parents is an outline of our views as parents ourselves. Although Robert Hayden’s relationship with his father differentiates from the relationship of Theodore Roethke and his father, they are both pondering back to their childhood and expressing the events in a poem. “My Papa’s Waltz” and “Those winter Sundays” provide the reader with an image of a childhood event which states how fathers are being viewed by their children. These poems reflect upon the relationship of the father and child when the child was a youth. Both Roethke and Hayden both indicate that their fathers weren’t perfect although they look back admiringly at their fathers’ actions. To most individuals, a father is a man that spends time with and takes care of them which gains him love and respect. An episode of Roethke’s childhood is illustrated in “My Papa’s Waltz”. In “My Papa’s Waltz”, the father comes home showing signs of alcohol and then begins waltzing with his son. Roethke states that the father’s hands are “battered on one knuckle”. The mother was so upset about the dancing that she did nothing other than frown. At the end of the day, the father waltzed the son to bed. “Those Winter Sundays” is based on a regular Sunday morning. The father rises early to wake his family and warm the house. To warm the house, he goes out in the cold and splits wood to start a fire. This is a poem about an older boy looking back to his childhood and regretting that “No one ever thanked him.” In Those Winter Sundays'; by Robert Hayden, the poet also relinquishes on a regular occurrence in his childhood. On Sunday mornings, just as any other morning, his father rises early and puts on his clothes in the cold darkness. He ...
In the poem “My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke, the speaker is reflecting on a childhood experience involving his father. Some people assume that this poem is about a happy relationship between a father and son while other people assume that this poem emphasizes hidden messages of parental abuse. In my
Donald Hall describes the use of imagery in poetry as a device that "makes us more sensitive to [literature], as if we acquired eyes that could see through things"(p 530). Imagery creates vivid details that deal with one's sense of sight, sound, touch, smell, or taste. These details can be seen in Theodore Roethke's "My Papa's Waltz" because the senses of touch, sight, sound, and smell appeal to the reader in order to better explain the feelings of each character in the poem. Roethke's use of imagery creates a negative picture that is painted by the son of an abusive father.
I have elected to analyze seven poems spoken by a child to its parent. Despite a wide variety of sentiments, all share one theme: the deep and complicated love between child and parent.
If the narrator simply intended to reflect a warm commemoration, he could have used a strand of words that implied happiness or comfort. The author was clearly aware that at first glance, readers typically assume the poem is about an abusive relationship; nevertheless, he neglected to alter his poem, demonstrating the idea that negative memories of the father do exist. The father in “My Papa’s Waltz” is portrayed by the narrator as one who neglects his responsibilities of ensuring safety and being a positive role model. Using many examples and implying this through writing techniques, the narrator represents the father in a way other than a loving dad.
The speakers and audience in poem are crucial elements of the poem and is also the case in these poems. In the poem Untitled, it can be argued that the poem is being written by Peter based on what his father might say to him...
While the subject of “My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke has spurred passionate academic debate from professors, scholars, and students alike, the imagery, syntax, and diction of the poem clearly support the interpretation that Roethke writes “My Papa’s Waltz” to look back on his most fondest childhood memories he has created of dancing with his father. In Roethke's poem “My Papa’s Waltz”, it inspires many forms of controversies alike do due to the vague nature of his motive for writing and publishing such a work of literature. This divides the both side into many forms of groups with evidence supporting their claim. Some may believe he was driven by the past abuse he received as a child. Others were convinced
Have you ever heard the name Theodore Roethke? Theodore is an American poet, who has influenced a great many people. He wrote several notable poems such as "The Waking," or "In a Dark Time." In this essay, I will discuss Theodore's life and influence, his teaching, and his poetry. Now, I shall talk on Theodore's life.
The first reader’s response of Theodore Roethke poem, My Papa’s Waltz, is pleasant and memorable in manner. The reader, a knowledgeable literature teacher, explained that as she read the poem she began visualizing the little boy recalling fond memories of his father lightheartedly and pure in nature caring for him as a child. Theodore Roethke’s “My Papa’s Waltz”: A Reader’s Response states, “For me the poem’s tone was one of fond recollection: that the adult speaker still remembers small details of this waltzing suggested to me that the child thoroughly enjoyed this dance” (1). The first reader foresaw no interpretation of remorse or malice in My Papa's Waltz. She was prepared to discuss her interpretation with her students and was abruptly surprised by the difference in opinion. Theodore Roethke’s
While the subject of “My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke has spurred passionate academic debate from professors, scholars, and students alike, the imagery, syntax, and diction of the poem clearly support the interpretation that Roethke writes “My Papa’s Waltz” to express a fond memory between him and his father dancing when he was young. Roethke had a loving relationship with his father even if he was constantly working in a greenhouse. “My Papa’s Waltz” was first published in his book The Lost Son and Other Poems. This shows that he still deeply thinks about his father passing away and has not fully recovered. Professors, scholars, and students have debated whether the subject of the poem is an abusive night with his drunken father late at night, or a memorable night with his father dancing throughout the house. One might argue that the connotation of words such as “beat,” “whiskey,” and “romped” can connotate to the reader assuming abusive actions are involved throughout the
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 syntax of the poem clearly support the interpretation that Roethke writes “My Papa’s Waltz” to have mixed complexed opinions within the reader's inner soul for which many think the poem was about a young child getting abused by his dad but it comes to find out that it was an uplifting poem of a dad who drank that night and was play fighting with his son.
While the subject of “My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke has spurred passionate academic debate from professors, scholars, and students alike, the imagery, syntax, and diction of the poem clearly support the interpretation that Roethke writes “My Papa’s Waltz” to illustrate a childhood memory of nostalgia of his father. On one hand, some readers argue that the poem is about a physically abusive childhood memory and although it can be, it is clear that the poem is intended to illustrate a fond memory of a playful yet rough “waltz.” Roethke’s diction in the poem and the connotation of the words used additionally support the interpretation of a positive relationship between father and son. The poem was written by the author to reminisce about
My Papa’s Waltz has been compared to a generational litmus test. Depending on what generation the reader was born, could determine how the reader would interpret this poem. Each generation has its own views that have been developed in them for the language used to describe Papa in this poem. The whiskey on his breath and Papa’s hand beating on his head, both sound like a negative connotation. Depending on the experience of the reader, they can either be disturbed by these words or be drawn in closer to the poem. Theodore Roethke loved his father. Not only did he love him, but he idolized him and unfortunately lost him at an early age. This poem is a reflective memorial waltz written in iambic trimeter to honor his father and mother.
Each of these poems is written in different form and with different style. Each form represents the time period of my life I am representing. “Daddy’s Girl” was inspired by “My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke. The two share the perspective of a young child desiring a close relationship with their fathers, due to their lack of involvement. “Daddy’s Girl,” is structured in three stanzas, each representing a different part of the scenario. The first stanza offers my desire to spend time with my dad. The parenthetical statement that “(I don’t actually like baseball)” (l. 2) shows that the activity I desired had nothing to do with the activity and everything to do with him. The second stanza is more in line with the time spent at the ballpark. My father always worked, but I didn’t mind as long as I got to be with him. My comment that, “Mr. Heller seems nice” (l. 8) relayed a desire to converse with my father about things he was interested in. I didn’t have the mental capacity to talk about the actual work, so the business partners involved would have to suffice. The third stanza displays the ever present fact that my father would leave, and I had to cope with that. I would take every opportunity I had to spend time with him. Furthermore the short stanzas and