Even though the son in my papa s waltz is dizzy, and keeps getting his ear scraped by his dad s belt, he still clings to his father. Even twenty years after his father died, it is noticeable in roethkes writings that he continued to suffer from the death. Analysis of theodore roethkes my papas waltz essay. Theodore roethke was born and raised in saginaw, michigan, where his family managed greenhouses that were the subject of several of his early lyrics. My papas waltz roethkes mixed feelings literature essay. Roethke condoned his fathers drunkenness, manhandling and negligence yet remembers his everlasting affection for his papa. It is, after all, about a father waltzing with his child. The last stanza of my papas waltz by theodore roethke summarizes and encompasses the full meaning and emotions conveyed in the poem. Could make a small boy dizzy but i hung on like death.
Theodore roethke hardly fits anyones image of the stereotypical highminded poetintellectual of the 1940s through 1960s. In my papas waltz, theodore roethke illustrates an image of a fatherson romp around the kitchen that is both harsh in its play and delicate in its memory. The waltz, on a literal level, should be easy because the speaker is just being swung around by his father its not easy though because apparently their lives together are not easy. Theodore roethke, author of my papa s waltz, would be pleasantly surprised to know that his poem has become a generational litmus test an almost surefire means of determining the age of the poem s readers. My papas waltz by theodore roethke theodore roethkes poem, my papas waltz, delves into the relationship between a young boy and his intoxicated father. Readerresponse to my papas waltz click on the link below to read an essay responding to the poem my papas waltz, using readerresponse criticism. It was first published in 1942, then collected in his book the lost son and other poems in 1948.
In the first stanza a young boy holds tightly to his father. My papas waltz poem by theodore roethke poem hunter. The article examines the poem my papas waltz, by theodore roethke. My papas waltz analysis literary devices and poetic devices. My papa s waltz summary in theodore roethke s poem my papa s waltz, the speaker is a little boy whose father is a drunkard. Download file to see previous pages the surface meaning is just the description of that crazy dance. Readerresponse to my papas waltz introduction to literature. My papas waltz by theodore roethke, famous family poem. His father was often drunk and frequently made mistakes that physically hurt roethke. There is disputation about the family in my papas waltz. Theodore huebner roethke may 25, 1908 august 1, 1963 was an american poet. May 18, 20 the last stanza of my papas waltz by theodore roethke summarizes and encompasses the full meaning and emotions conveyed in the poem. Analysis of my papas waltz by theodore roethke 123 help me.
The feeling one get from reading this poem is that the narrator, at least at the time in which the. Conclusion of my papas waltz by theodore roethke mr. Roethke is a favorite of mine and his wonderful poem, the waking is hanging on my study wall. You beat time on my head with a palm caked hard by dirt, then waltzed me off to bed still clinging to your shirt the poem, my papas waltz, written by theodore roethke, is written in such a way that creates many debate and contestation over the. Analysis of theodore roethkes my papas waltz essay bartleby. Theodore roethke drew on his own relationship with his father to write my papa s waltz. His first book of poetry, open house, was published in 1941. My papas waltz the whiskey on your breath could make a small boy dizzy the whiskey on your breath could make a small boy dizzy the academy of american poets is the largest membershipbased nonprofit organization fostering an appreciation for contemporary poetry and supporting american poets. Their waltz is pretty clumsy the pans are sliding from the shelf, and moms not too happy about that. This indicates roethkes unconditional love towards his father. This shows that he really looks up to, admires and love him to not what to let go of him.
Looking at my papas waltz english literature essay. My papas waltz theodore huebner roethke most of theodores poems were about his childhood memories in the greenhouse that his father and uncle owned. My papas waltz theodore roethke the whiskey on your. Though as a child he read a great deal and as a high school freshman he had a red cross campaign speech translated into 26 languages, he suffered from issues of. The poem my papas waltz written by theodore roethke the speaker is reflecting on a childhood memory that he and his father shared.
By closing this message, you are consenting to our use of cookies. Theodore roethke, my papas waltz, 1961 introduction. My papas waltz, by theodore roethke, is an expressive poem about a young boy and his fathers dance in their home. The title could just have easily been my papa s tango or my papa s foxtrot. A waltz is in 34 time, and always has an offkilter feel. It captures the complex relationship the speaker has with his father. By using this poem in a lesson encompassing struggle, students will be able to recognize the power of confessional poetry, and how its impact is lingering. The speaker describes his relationship with his father as difficult and frightening using symbolism, tone, and word choice. When roethke was a boy, his father would pick him up, hook him into the straps. Summary daddys had a little too much whiskey, and now hes waltzing around the kitchen with his son.
Through the use of graphic diction, roethke informs the reader that my. The whiskey on your breath could make a small boy dizzy but i hung on like death. Jan 20, 2016 when looking at the waltz as an extended metaphor for their relationship, it can be deduced that the mother is saddened and disappointed with the way that her husband fathers their child. Extract of sample my papas waltz by theodore roethke. The poem, at first, might lead some readers to believe that the poem is about a joyous dance between a father and son. The author discusses the characterization of the relationship between the father and the child within the poem, explores the balancing of the elements of joy and fear in the work, and examines the use of the poem in jungian psychotherapy to treat alcoholics. My papas waltz is about a moment in the life of a family. My papas waltz by theodore roethke can be analyzed through structuralism and readerresponse criticism. We romped until the pans slid from the kitchen shelf.
The ambiguity in this poem can lead to two very different interpretations. My papas waltz by theodore roethke, from poetry foundation theodore huebner roethke may 25, 1908 august 1, 1963 was an american poet. The poem my papas waltz by theodore roethke is a work rich in ambiguities, which are shown through the language used in the work as. This conveys the impression of a lighthearted encounter. If mentioned at all, it is characterized as depicting the fathers mixture of tenderness and brutality and the childs admiration and fear.
He has a battered fist, and would scrape the kids ear when he would miss a step. Theme even though your loved ones might not always be there for you, you must understand that they try their best to do what makes you happy. The waltz, on a literal level, should be easy because the speaker is just being swung around by his father it s not easy though because apparently their lives together are not easy. My papas waltz by theodore roethke, from poetry foundation.
Oct 25, 2017 video discussion of my papas waltz by theodore roethke for mr. Roethke suffered from depression and other mental illnesses due to this tragic event. In my papas waltz, theodore roethke expressed the vivid remembrance of his childhood and his fathers rambunctious behavior. Symbols the word buckle can suggest another meaning other than just the use as a belt buckle. My papa s waltz is a poem written by theodore roethke, published in his collection of poems in 1942. Most critics interpret it as an affectionate and comic tribute to the poets father. My papa s waltz is one of the defining poems of theodore roethke. In theodore roethkes my papas waltz the reader finds a horrid experience, the beating of a child by his father, which is told in a way of a romantic and. Symbolism in my papas waltz, by theodore roethke 717. The diction used by roethke is important, especially to the interpretation that the father and son have a loving and caring relationship. My papas waltz by theodore roethke poetry foundation. Nov 09, 2016 theodore roethke reads my papa s waltz for educational purposes.
The second stanza describes a playful roughhousing between father and son. Roethke is regarded as one of the most accomplished and. It would be hard to argue that this scene of a drunken father boisterously dancing his young son around the kitchen does not have comic overtones. While the dance that takes place may at first appear to be nothing short of child abuse, a drunken mans rough handling of his vulnerable boy, the narrator of the poem the poet as a. Hear gwendolyn brooks read the mother and theodore roethke read my papas waltz, with insights by exus poet laureate donald hall. Born in saginaw, michigan, his father was a german immigrant who owned and ran a 25acre greenhouse. My papas waltz was written by the american poet theodore roethke. The poem was first published during 1942 in hearst magazine and later in other collections, including the 1948 anthology the lost son and other poems the poem takes place sometime during the poet s childhood and features a boy who loves his father, but is afraid of him. My papas waltz summary and analysis by theodore roethke.
Roethkes father suddenly died of cancer when roethke was fifteen. Apr 07, 2010 roethkes my papas waltz is open for interpretation that is supported by the emotions of the reader when reading it, and it is also immensely influenced by the diction chosen by roethke. Roethke struggled with mental illness all his life. For others, and after a thorough examination, the poem takes on a darker theme and rather than a happy dance, it depicts an act of physical abuse. I think roethke chose waltz in this particular case to emphasize the lilting feel of his fathers drunken movements. The lines that assist the reader with developing an image of. Theodore roethke my papa s waltz and other poems analyzing poetic devices. Theodore roethke, author of my papas waltz, would be pleasantly surprised to know that his poem has become a generational litmus test an almost surefire means of determining the age of the poems readers. Father and son waltzing throughout the kitchen, with mother unhappily watching on the side. Video discussion of my papas waltz by theodore roethke for mr. The title could just have easily been my papas tango or my papas foxtrot. In his poetry theodore reveals what he felt and has a great sense of showing his emotions, and feelings his father died in 1923.
At first glance, it would seem like this would be a poem about something grand or good. My papas waltz by theodore roethke is an interesting poem that begins with complexity. In theodore roethke s my papa s waltz, the persona reveals an incidence of child abuse that happened earlier in his life. Though as a child he read a great deal and as a high school freshman he had. My papas waltz by theodore roethke, is an intriguing poem about a memory of a boy and his father waltzing around the house. The poem was first published during 1942 in hearst magazine and later in other. He published several volumes of awardwinning and critically acclaimed poetry. But he would continue with great determination in spite of. I think roethke chose waltz in this particular case to emphasize the lilting feel of his father s drunken movements. In theodore roethkes my papas waltz the reader finds a horrid experience, the beating of a child by his father, which is told in a way of a romantic and beautiful dance the waltz.
My papas waltz poem summary and analysis litcharts. Even though all of roethke s poems arent explicitly about his father, the. Hirsch says the merger of poetry and music never disappeared entirely, and. As we waltz through theodore roethkes my papas waltz and attempt to grasp its true meaning, or merely sum up a valid understanding of our own, we cannot ignore the help we receive from the visuals provided in the poem by roethke. My papas waltz theodore roethke the whiskey on your breath could make a small boy dizzy. What do you think the poem my papas waltz by theodore. Discussion of themes and motifs in theodore roethkes my papas waltz. My papa s waltz is a poem written by theodore roethke 19081963. Apr 04, 2010 my papas waltz, by theodore roethke, is an expressive poem about a young boy and his fathers dance in their home. My papas waltz by theodore roethke assignment example topics.
By using this poem in a lesson encompassing struggle, students will be able to recognize the power of confessional poetry, and how it s impact is lingering. Theodore roethke reads my papas waltz for educational purposes. Summary and critical analysis when the narrator was young, he would dance around with his father. The third stanza displays the fathers apathetic roughness. Dec 31, 2014 my mothers countenance could not unfrown itself. He divulges the occurrence of abuse through the use of certain words and noting the actions that go on during the waltz. Others believe that there is love and hardship between the father and son.
Hear gwendolyn brooks read the mother and theodore roethke read my papa s waltz, with insights by exus poet laureate donald hall. My papas waltz by theodore roethke 645 words 3 pages. Robert hayden s those winter sundays and theodore roethke s my papa s waltz students will study both the content and the form of these two poems, closely analyzing how each poem s use of poetic devices helps to convey and emphasize the poem s meaning. My papas waltz is about a moment in life of a family, mostly the relationship of a father and son. Theodore roethke my papas waltz and other poems analyzing poetic devices. Before you travel any further, please know that there may be some thorny. Click on the link below to read the poem my papas waltz by theodore roethke. My papas waltz is a poem written by theodore roethke 19081963. Theodore roethkes my papas waltz my papas waltz is about a brief moment in time with a family. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Theodore roethke, my papas waltz, 1961 introduction to.
To read that, please use link 2 many of the words and phrases in theodore roethkes poem, my papas waltz, could be misinterpreted as indicating physical abuse between the father and son in the poem without a prior knowledge of roethkes. This poem has two different interpretations and theories of the relationship between the speaker and his father. Other people believe that this poem is describing the abuse of a child and how torn up the family is. Apr 14, 2007 roethke is a favorite of mine and his wonderful poem, the waking is hanging on my study wall. It can be seen as a child terrorized by an abusive father or. Other poems here show roethkes sensitivity in capturing the ambiguities of human relationships. Theodore roethkes my papas waltz analysis naznoors blog. This poem is immersed with metaphors, symbolism and imagery. Let s go for a succinct summary of the poem and then analyze it on the basis of its poetic features. The whiskey on your breath could make a small boy dizzy. In these densely nurtured spaces, roethke began to forge a kind of mystical animism that stayed with him throughout his career. The word waltz has a sophisticated and dreamy connotation, and papa has an affectionate connotation. Theres controversy about the family in this poem some reader. The hand that held my wrist was battered on one knuckle.
My papas waltz by theodore roethke poems academy of. Mom encroaches on their playtime with a look that says enough, youre making a mess. Mypapaswaltz my papas waltz by theodore roethke can be. Welcome to the land of symbols, imagery, and wordplay. The symbolism shows the father s dominance over the child and that the way the father is leading that makes the dance not easy. When read allowed, the poem has the same sound as the beat to a waltz. In this poem it is unclear if the memories of his drunk father putting him to bed are happy or sad, abusive or merry. Robert haydens those winter sundays and theodore roethkes my papas waltz students will study both the content and the form of these two poems, closely analyzing how each poems use of poetic devices helps to convey and emphasize the poems meaning. In this poem, roethke shows the reader the complicated relationship he had with his father when he was a boy. This form of confessional poetry is not only easy to read, but also can be a sad realization for students.